EVERGREEN Tenbury veteran Mark Yarranton continues to enjoy a golden summer with the ball.

The experienced seamer, who has twice plundered career-best figures this season, performed a hat-trick last weekend as buoyant Tenbury inched to a two-wicket win over Redditch 3rd in the Worcestershire County League.

The victory was their fourth in a row and trimmed table-topping Astwood Bank’s lead at the head of the Division Five table to just two points.

Abdul Jabbar dropped anchor to make 92 not out of Redditch’s 148-9 off 50 overs after they had been put in, but Robbie and Jack Farrar bowled straight through to deny the home side from gaining any sort of stranglehold with the bat.

Yarranton then came on to take 5-31, finishing off the innings with three wickets in three balls, a bowled, a catch at mid-on and an lbw.

The Tenbury reply was wobbling on 30 for three but Kier Sellars (seven fours and a six) hit 53, Zack Yarranton weighed in with 25 and their depth of batting resources saw Dave Hunt and skipper Steve Giles at the crease when victory arrived off the second ball of the 46th over on 149-8.

Giles said: “Robbie and Jack Farrar both bowled well without getting too much luck.

“Then Mark came on to take his five wickets and a hat-trick - I don’t think even he can believe what is happening this season.

“He has taken career best figures of six for, and then eight for, and now he takes a hat-trick as well.

“We lost some early wickets in reply but I always felt we had another batting to win.

“Kier played a really good innings while Dave Hunt, who normally bats at number four, was down at number eight and I batted at number 10.

“It has been a good start to the season and we are happy to be just tucked in behind Astwood Bank at the top of the table.”

Tenbury are at home to Stourbridge this weekend, but will be without both opener Andy Adams and Aaron Morris.

Morris helped himself to three wickets in 12 balls in Tenbury 2nd’s crushing 207-run victory over Redditch 4th at Penlu.

Opener Ben Thompson hit a sunshine century, his first for Tenbury in 20 years with the club, as the home side piled up a powerful 276-4 off their 45 overs.

Thompson retired on 103 not out (12 fours and a six) with Ian Taylor also contributing 53 to an opening stand of 145, and Chris Giles scoring 43 and Tim Coles a breezy 28.

Redditch were never in it and might have been dismissed for less than their meagre total of 69 all out had Morris not come off after picking up 3-7 in two overs.

Adrian Edwards pocketed two for 16 and Ashley Wood two for six off 13 deliveries.