DROITWICH Spa made it a clean sweep in the Worcestershire County League with all four teams securing victories.
A comfortable nine-wicket victory for the Firsts moved them 24 points clear of the drop zone and crucially extended the gap between themselves and opponents Wormelow, who remain rooted to the foot of the Division Two table.
Spa’s second win of the summer came courtesy of an excellent bowling and fielding display inspired by a miserly spell of ten overs for just seven runs from Phil Thomas.
On a wicket offering encouragement to the seamers, the visitors took drinks at 63-4 off 25 overs before Matt Gurr returned for a second spell which paid immediate dividends as he took two wickets in one over.
Wormelow’s late order showed little resistance and some excellent catching saw them dismissed for just 88 in the 36th over.
Skipper Ian Cottrill decided to lead by example and opened the batting with Martyn Davies.
This paid dividends as he stroked the ball to all parts of the ground in a classy knock of 48 not out, which demoralised the opposition.
He was aided initially by Davies, who scored an aggressive 24, and latterly by the returning Stuart Bryan as Spa eased home in the 18th over.
The Seconds achieved a convincing 78-run win at Worcester Nomads in Division One Second XI after impressing more with the ball than the bat.
Opener Martin Keen worked hard to top score with 40 but he would have been disappointed to see several of the following batsmen throw their wickets away to spinner Anton Madzarevic, who finished with 4-20 as Spa closed on 171-9.
An improved performance in the field ensured the visitors made early inroads and, once Josh Sinclair claimed the first of his two scalps, wickets tumbled at regular intervals.
Generating some decent pace and away swing, Dan Cottrill grabbed 3-20 before Joe Smith swept away the Nomads tail to claim 4-20 and clinch victory in only the 26th over.
A tremendous rearguard action led by veteran Simon Holliday inspired the Thirds to a fantastic 63-run win over Redditch in Division Five.
Spa recovered from 65-5 to post 200 all out with Holliday’s 44 supplemented by excellent knocks from youngsters Luke Cooper-Sergeant (31), Cam Moseley (27) and Owen Roberts (24).
Haleem scored 59 for the visitors but they came up well short against the pace of Chris Parish and Anthony Redfern, who picked up two wickets apiece, whilst Paul Foster finished with 3-20.
Meanwhile, a half century from Paul Cowlard and 45 from 14-year-old Benjamin Foster helped the Fourths to a six-wicket success at Bromyard in Division Five Second XI.
Spa’s winning momentum continued on Sunday with a seven-wicket victory over Bromsgrove as they chased down 213 with half-centuries for Dan Cottrill, Archie Fenn and Ash Fearnall.
On Saturday the Firsts and Seconds take on Coombs Wood, the Thirds travel to Highley while the Fourths entertain Worcester.
