CLOEBURY Mortimer skipper Ed Kemp starred with both bat and ball but was unable to stop his side from slumping to a four-wicket defeat at Ross in the Premier Division of the Marches League.

And there was also disappointment for Knighton who lost their Division One match at Luctonians 2nds by five wickets.

Cleobury’s task was hampered by not having a number of key players. Top order batsmen James Manley and Liam Williams were both unavailable and Nick Griffiths was delayed at work which meant he also missed out.

And yet the visitors made an impressive start with Kemp and Jake Wadhams chalking up the runs against a youthful and accurate Ross bowling line-up.

“It was a great track so I was grateful when they put us in to bat,” the Cleobury captain said. “We made a great start, putting on 71 for the first wicket but then we’re all out for 120.

“To be honest we never really looked like winning but I can’t fault those who played because at one point on the Friday it looked as though we might have to concede.”

Kemp hit 79 off 77 balls while Wadhams was solid at the other end reaching 10 off 56 deliveries before being the first to fall to one of the home side’s young guns.

Wickets then tumbled with nobody else reaching double figures and with Griffiths delayed, Cleobury were effectively all out from 30 overs at 120-9.

In reply, Kemp grabbed the wickets of openers Stuart Mair and Alastair Cookwith just 35 on the board but decent knocks from skipper Jack Donovan (32) and Graham Howls (31) steadied the innings and the home side reached their target with four wickets in hand.

Kemp finished with 3-46 while Oliver Rowland took 3-31 with each of them claiming a caught and bowled.

The Cleobury skipper added: “Ross had quite a few u16s in their side but they bowled a good length all afternoon.

“We should have the missing players back for the game against Dales who are just above us in the table.”

Knighton lost early wickets at Lucs and it needed vital runs from middle order pair Dave Chance (40) and Dan Pullen (62) to steer them to a respectable 196 all out.

Chance was also among the wickets taking 2-45 as the home side looked to chase down their target but the result rarely looked in doubt with Chris Burke top scoring with 55.

In the end they reached 199-5 inside 36 overs with Knighton’s Greg Powell and Matthew Harber the other wicket takers with opener Steve Powell being run out.

Robbie James’ side are without a game this weekend.