BATSMEN blazed a winning trail in the Cotswold Hills League as the bowlers wilted in the stifling sunshine last Saturday.

Four matches produced an aggregate in excess of 500 runs with the Premier Division clash between Broadway and Shipston realising an incredible 608!

Amazingly, there were no centurions on a day when the home side lost for the tenth time this season and appear destined for the drop.

Top flight leaders Bretforton lost just three wickets in amassing 340-3 at Alscote Park where Stratford Bards were dismissed for 211.

Paul Jones turned the heat on the hosts with another brilliant blast with the bat that saw him smash 13 6s and seven 4s in an innings of 152 not out that came off just 80 balls.

Former Evesham duo Gary Lewis (56) and Stuart Barry (84no) joined in the run spree with the latter helping Jones add 245 for the fourth wicket.

Survived

The winners now lead by 14 points after Exhall and Wixford survived a scare to win by ten runs at Moreton who replied with 230-8 after the champions had posted 240-4.

Half-centuries from Matt Gwynn, Charlie Mulraine and Steve Kerby gave Moreton plenty to do after tea.

David Henshaw was the only Batsford Road man to pass 50 although the run-out of jamie Hurrell for 43 was a crucial point in proceedings and 17 off the last Gwynn over proved too many for the hosts.

Wellesbourne roared to the summit of the first division after scoring 345-3 at Ebrington where the struggling hosts could only manage 156 in reply.

Alcester and Ragley are in second after easily overcoming promotion rivals Norton Lindsey who were dismissed for 123 in pursuit of 266 for victory.

Mark Fawthrop (74), Shaun Quirke (59) and Matt Greenway (61) scored the bulk of the Ragley runs, while Julian Reader's figures of 4-27 with the ball helped hustle out the hosts.

Ashton are in fourth eight points off the pace after Tom Archer's 103 helped amass 291-7 at home to Twyning who replied with 182-7.

The Ragley Park club's second string were another side involved in a match of more than 500 runs but they conceded 292 of those to Harvington who then restricted the home side to 244-8.

Division Four leaders Fladbury are one of only two teams still unbeaten following surprise defeats for fifth division duo Cookhill and Blockley and Stanway's nine-wicket hammering at Temple Grafton.

Kineton are the other unbeaten side and they sit 13 points clear at the top of Division Two after a 53-run defeat of Elmley Castle.

Briggs and Holgate both scored half-centuries for the winners with Craig Sheward's 56 the best in Elmley's all-out 182.

Elmley have had to withdraw their second team from the league leaving officials to determine the best way to handle the points situation.

Rich Cooper (88) and Dominic Capaldi (70) were among the runs as Ashton's second team eased their relegation worries in Division Five with a 25-run success at fellow strugglers Eckington.