OPENER Andy Adams fell agonisingly short of a prized century as Tenbury made it three wins from three games in Division Five of the Worcestershire County League.

Adams was dismissed for 99, caught backward of point, as Tenbury convincingly beat Old Elizabethans 3rd by 136 runs at Penlu.

It leaves them in second spot in the table, four points behind leaders Astwood Bank.

Adams struck 15 boundaries and Keir Sellars, with some crashing cover drives, also collected nine boundaries in his eye-catching 51.

Aaron Morris, who opened with Adams, chipped in 31 (six fours) with Jon Pearson (18) and Darren Thompson (15 not out) also weighing in towards the end as Tenbury ran up an imposing 262-7 off their 50 overs.

Then the Tenbury bowlers took over to dismiss Old Elizabethans for 126 in 47.1 overs. Seamer Jack Farrar picked up four for 30 and both Morris and Zack Yarranton claimed a couple of victims apiece, with Tenbury finally nicking out the last wicket with 17 balls to spare.

New skipper Steve Giles said: “Old Elizabethans were probably the best side we have played so far, but it was another good allround performance.

“We have to be happy with the way we have started the season.”

Tenbury 2nd were also 32-run winners over Old Elizabethans 4th in Division Five 2nd XI, with Ian Taylor in top form.

The opener carried his bat for 92 not out off 124 balls, with ten fours, as Tenbury totalled 226-3 off 45 overs. Damien Yeomans, playing his first game since returning from Brazil, also creamed 11 stylish fours in a cracking 65 as he shared in a profItable third-wicket partnership of 112 with Taylor.

In reply Old Elizabethans were soon in trouble against Adrian Edwards (4-22) and though Simon Ward rallied them with a middle-order 66, Matt Jones also joined in with 4-48 and they were dismissed for 194 in the 43rd over.

Last week, Tenbury had been beaten by Ludlow in their opening fixture of the Shropshire Twenty20 League. They were dismissed for 171 – Zack Yarranton contributing 54 and Aaron Morris 26 – in reply to Ludlow’s 204-8.