TOM Rawlings put bat to ball with real gusto to sweep Tenbury to a seven-wicket success over Hallow in Division Five of the Worcestershire County League.

Tenbury, chasing only 120 to win, lost early wickets as recent centurions Aaron Morris (11), Andy Adams (9) both fell cheaply and the consistent Keir Sellars suffered a rare failure, being stumped without scoring by a 10-yard throw from the wicketkeeper.

But Rawlings then came to the rescue to take over, smashing nine fours and four sixes to see Tenbury home to their eighth win in 11 games alongside Chris Giles (17 not out) on 120-3 in the 19th over. Rawlings finished on 75 not out.

Stand-in skipper Zack Yarranton had earlier taken 4-36 as Hallow collapsed after a solid start. Once openers Greg Fowler (24) and Rob Bawden (42) had departed, Yarranton, Aaron Morris (3-24) and Rob Farrar (3-36) quickly worked their way through the order.

Captain Steve Giles, who was taking a week off, admitted: “It keeps us third in the table and winning promotion from Division Three is our goal.

“This was another early finish and was over around 4pm. There is clear divide between the top and bottom sides in this division and we want more competitive games on a weekly basis.”

Damien Yeomans joined Tenbury’s July ton-up brigade with an unbeaten century for the 2nd XI against Hallow 2nd.

Yeomans compiled a dominant 118 not out and shared in weighty stands of 111 and 138 with Tom Pugh (65) and Henry Corfield (63) as Tenbury piled up 327-3 off their 45 overs, and Hallow managed only 194-6 in reply, Ashley Wood taking 4-35 off six overs.

Last Wednesday Tenbury had been beaten by 58 runs by Dales in the South Shropshire Twenty20 League.

Dales posted a decent 182-6 off their 20 overs and despite Aaron Morris making 57, and opener Jon Pearson 35, Tenbury folded to 124 all out in 17.3 overs.