CHURCH Stretton and Bishops Castle scored victories – albeit in far different circumstances – over the division’s bottom two sides to inch further clear of danger in Shropshire County League Division Four.

While visitors Prees forfeited to hand Castle a walkover win, Stretton had to grind their way to victory over Cae Glas in a low-scoring affair.

Batting first, Stretton looked to set to amass a decent total as openers Saif Khalid (56) and skipper Peter Lee (37) began well.

However, the rest of the order could not back that partnership up, Gabriel Williams (27) making the only other score of note as Stretton battled to 180-9 from their 40 overs.

In reply, Stretton produced a real collective effort – Luca Justice (2-11), Williams (2-14) and Lee (2-16) all impressing – as Cae Glas were all out for 131.

There was no such joy for Corvedale, who slipped to third-bottom in Shropshire Division Six after a 113-run defeat to high-flying Cound seconds at Millichope Park.

Corvedale had the visitors in a spot of bother at 88-4 as Simon Wilcox (3-52) impressed but Will Tudor (88 off 77 balls) and Robert Tomkins (39) put on 93 for the fifth wicket.

Craig Massey (3-41) eventually removed both but late-order runs got Cound up to 273-8.

In reply, Corvedale were always struggling to keep up with the required rate and lost wickets too regularly, leaving the excellent Glyn Tipton as the last man standing, unbeaten on 64.

Chris Moore (32) and Massey (27) were the only other batsmen to make double figures as the hosts were dismissed for 160.

In the Worcestershire County League, Cleobury Mortimer had a bad day with the bat as a four-wicket loss at Wyre Foresters consigned them to back-to-back Division Eight defeats.

Oliver Green (37) top-scored as Cleobury were skittled for 116 and although Foresters made hard work of the chase, opener Alexander Roden’s unbeaten 50 got them home at 120-6.

Tenbury Wells claimed a thrilling four-wicket win at league leaders Droitwich Spa thirds in Division Nine.

They bowled well to restrict Droitwich to 178-9, Rob Farrar (3-48) topping the bowling figures, while Jon Duce, Edward Corfield and Dave Gordon took two wickets apiece.

In reply, Tenbury got home with just three balls to spare at 179-6 as Corfield (54) and Jamie Farrar (34) put on an opening partnership of 97 and Chris Giles’ superb unbeaten 47 sealed victory.