ALCESTER and Ragley lost ground in their Division One title chase but remain five points below the second promotion place after a winning draw against Claverdon.

After losing a couple of early wickets, Mark Fawthrop (136) and Shaun Quirke (80) steadied the ship for Alcester by putting on 180 before Paul Dipple smashed an unbeaten 40 off 12 deliveries, including six sixes.

Claverdon never looked like reaching their 318-4 target but hung on for a share of the points despite good work from Adam Devey (3-20) and Marc Woolley (2-30).

Alcester visit Twyning on Saturday (2pm start).

Bidford slipped to the wrong end of the table after defeat to Ashton-under-Hill but remain one win short of the promotion picture.

The hosts posted 260-8 at the weekend but saw Ashton pass that target with three wickets in hand to leave Bidford 22 points - and five places - off the promotion pace. Bidford visit Claverdon on Saturday (2pm start).

Great Alne boosted their Division three survival chances with a welcome 84-run victory over Earslwood II.

The hosts reached 171ao before skittling out their opponents for just 87 in an emphatic victory.

That was enough to keep them 21 points of the bottom two despite second-from-bottom Bearley Bears' narrow win at home to Temple Grafton.

Bears posted 177ao and managed to take the final Temple Grafton wicket with the visitors just two short of the total.

And Temple Grafton host derby rivals Great Alne on Saturday (2pm start).

Cookhill could have missed out on the Division Five title after a 13-run defeat in their top two clash at leaders Blockley.

The pacesetters reached 248-7 and their challengers could manage only 235-7 in reply, a result which sees Cookhill nine points behine their rivals and only 16 points above promotion rivals Tanworth-in-Arden II.

Cookhill host Ashton-under-Hill II on Saturday (2pm start).