BASEMENT side Alcester and Ragley must have thought their hopes of avoiding the drop had taken another turn for the better when they settled down for tea at Elmley Castle last Saturday.

Craig Sheward, however, had other ideas as he rattled up a brilliant unbeaten 169 to hurry the hosts to a remarkable ten-wicket win.

Sheward and Robin Eaton smashed 110 runs off the opening 15 overs after tea and the run feast continued as Elmley overhauled Alcester's 257-5 with eight overs to spare.

Sheward's marvellous knock contained 28 4s and three 6s, while Eaton finished unbeaten on 67 to leave Alcester shell-shocked.

Earlier, the visitors had a centurion of their own in Gary Strain after opener Shaun Quirke had added another 57 runs to his season's tally.

But, the win that could have lifted Alcester off the bottom, eluded them as Sheward embarked on a run spree of his own in the evening sunshine.

Mike Granacki was another Elmley century maker the next day when he scored 105 not out in a friendly against Harvington.

Ian Collings added 65 in a 35-over total of 206-3 to which Harvington replied impressively with 188-8 mainly thanks to 54 from Knowles and 67 from Shepherd.

Simon Cooper was the pick of the Elmley bowlers with figures of 4-17, while Nick Crisp bagged 3-65.