BEN Griffiths smashed an unbeaten 188 as Cleobury Mortimer secured a winning draw in a high-scoring contest at Avoncroft in Division Three of the Worcestershire League.

Chasing an unlikely total of 346, the visitors could not have made a worse start with opener Ed Kemp going for a duck and Sam Evans being caught for just six.

But that brought the big-hitting Griffiths to the crease and he duly set about the Avoncroft bowlers, smashing 12 sixes and 18 fours.

James Manley added a useful 41 before he was trapped lbw before the weather soon intervened with Cleobury on 288-6 with ten overs remaining.

Griffiths had earlier been among the wickets, taking 2-54, but it was the batsmen who also shone for Avoncroft with opener David James (96) and Sam Hughes (73) leading the way.

Tenbury Wells had to settle for a losing draw at Hallow in Division Five even though opener Andrew Adams hit a useful 60.

Chasing Hallow’s total of 292, the visitors were looking vulnerable on 170-8 after 30 overs before the rain came.

Tenbury 2nd secured a winning draw at home to Hallow, skipper Ben Thompson (107) and Darren Thompson (58) among the runs while Ian Taylor took 2-6 off four overs.

The weather also played a part in the Shropshire League with only Church Stretton’s Division Two game at Prees reaching a conclusion.

The home side made 270 from their 40 overs but were denied victory by some stubborn batting from Stretton.

Opener Saif Khalid top scored with 31 but skipper Peter Lee (29no) and Tomas Quraishi (15no) stood firm to see the visitors to 144-5 and a losing draw.

Elsewhere in Division Two, the game between Bishop's Castle and Willey was abandoned.

The home side had chalked up 125-6 at the end of their innings, Edgar Whately top scoring with 47. In reply, Willey were on 87-3 when the rain came – Paul Cottrell (3-21) taking all three.

And it was a similar tale in the game between Chelmarsh and Corvedale in Division Three with the latter on 105-7 chasing down the home side’s 220-5. For Corvedale, opener Adam Williams top scored with 38.

Also in Division Three, Ludlow 3rd beat Hodnet & Peplow by 120 runs, helped by an unbeaten 119 from Edward Riley and 6-22 from bowler Scott Kemsley.

Ludlow 2nd lost by 12 runs at Quatt while Bishop's Castle 2nd were beaten by six wickets at Welshpool.