DAVID Shorter claimed five wickets on his first league appearance of the season to keep Cleobury Mortimer in the Worcestershire League Division Eight promotion shake-up.

Shorter took 5-24 to rip through struggling Kempsey’s top order as the visitors were skittled for 114.

He was backed up by skipper Sam Evans (2-32) – who took the key wickets of Basharat Ali (40) and Ifran Kayani (32) – and Ed Kemp (2-2).

David Leach (58), Evans (26no) and Kemp (23) guided fourth-placed Cleobury home at 117-2 in reply.

Cleobury face a huge trip to second-placed Bredon this Saturday.