FOUR wickets from spin king Neville Mason helped Redditch to a winning draw at home to Wheaton Aston in Division Two East of the Birmingham League.

But it was a close-run thing with the visitors getting to within three runs of the Redditch total before running out of overs.

Redditch were put into bat on a pitch which offered help to the spin bowlers.

The Bromsgrove Road side lost an early wicket but Marcus Busfield (31) and Jason Morgan (47) put on 74 for the second wicket.

When the pair were dismissed in quick succession, Jeff Russell (24) and Nev Entwhistle (47) added a valuable 48.

A rapid 17 from Mason kept the score ticking over but Redditch failed to see out their overs and were all out for 191 in 54.4 overs.

In reply, Redditch's spin attack of Mason (4-77) and John Lostitch (2-47) soon had the visiting batsmen working hard to keep up with the scoring rate needed.

Wheaton Aston had slumped to 80-7 then Jugna, the Indian U19 captain, took the Redditch attack apart with an exceptional batting display of 103 not out.

In a nail-biting finish the Redditch bowlers ensured a winning draw with the visitors finishing at 188-9. Redditch 12pts, Wheaton Aston 8pts.

n Redditch 2nds slumped to a seven wicket defeat against Wheaton Aston seconds.

Redditch were put into bat and lost an early wicket but also found scoring difficult. After 50 overs they had posted 119-6 with Nick Fowkes (29), Chris Taylor (22) skipper Paul Baker (12) and the promising Alan White (27), the batsmen to shine.

Wheaton Aston, despite the varied Redditch attack, achieved victory at 42.4 overs despite good bowling from White (2-17), Sujay Jaya (1-17) and Matt James (0-9).

n Redditch 3rds proved too strong for Studley 3ds in a match played on a damp pitch.

Redditch won by 10 wickets after the Studley batsmen had no answer to the bowling of Will Wilson (3-15) and Steve Merry (2-8). Youngsters Steve Rose (2-3) and Andy Apperley (1-12) completed the rout leaving Studley 41 all out.

Redditch needed just six overs to reach their target, Bill Heaton (21no) and Matt Turner (13no) the players to see them through.

REDDITCH

Gibson lbw Smith 7

Busfield c Jugna b Sehmbi 31

Morgan b Sehmbi 47

Russell b Jugna 24

Entwhistle c Smith b Jugna 47

Eley b Sehmbi 0

Young b Sehmbi 0

Muspratt c Smith b Sehmbi 0

Mason c Smith b Jugna 17

Lostitch s Wassell b Sehmbi 0

Phelan not out 0

Extras 18

Total 191 all out

Bowling: Smith 3-0-13-0; Morrell 6-0-30-1; Sehmbi 24-5-76-6; Jugna 20-4-5-53-3; Hinde 1-0-10-0.

WHEATON ASTON

Madelin lbw Lostitch 12

Sehmbi lbw Mason 0

Neagle c Morgan b Lostitch 3

Jugna not out 103

Riaz run out 12

Thorley c & b Mason 5

R Smith c Muspratt b Mason 7

Morrell b Muspratt 18

Hinde lbw Mason 4

J Smith run out 2

Wassell not out 0

Extras 22

Total 188-9

Bowling: Mason 28-5-77-4; Lostitch 20-8-47-2; Muspratt 7-0-53-1.