Droitwich 169 all out (24pts)
Astwood Bank 143 all out (5pts)
Droitwich won by 26 runs

DROITWICH Spa climbed off the bottom of Crusader Worcestershire League Division One with their first win in 13 games.

Skipper Andy Fletcher lost the toss and Droitwich were asked to bat.

Having lost Fletcher and Gary Cartwright within the first six overs, Jerome Connor and Neil Wright quickly moved Spa onto 69.

Connor (26) got out looking to push the score along, and was quickly followed by Wright.

However, Steve Walsh and Phil Hamilton prevented a collapse by adding 57 runs in 12 overs.

Walsh fell for 34, but Hamilton continued to bat well with the tail, bringing up his first league half-century, before falling in the 46th over for 58.

With a below par score to defend, Adrian Field provided the perfect start for Droitwich's bowlers, with a wicket from his first delivery.

Andrew Clayton fell for a duck to Rogers, and Stefan Jagielski scored 26 before falling victim to Field.

However, with 12 overs gone Astwood Bank were looking favourites, having progressed to 51-2.

Jake Young entered the attack and claimed a wicket with his first ball, and another with his sixth, leaving Bank reeling at 57-5.

But Bryan Melliard and Alexander Robinson built a useful partnership.

Alex Harvey, on his debut for Spa, bowled well, conceeding only 11 from his six overs, but was unable to make a breakthrough.

With Bank coasting at 126-5, Spa threw the last roll of the dice, bringing back Rogers and Field.

The additional pace of Rogers caused an error from Melliard, who had batted well for his 57.

With Melliard gone, Rogers and the returning Young were able to get amongst the tail, with Bank losing their last five wickets for 17 runs.

Avoncroft suffered a 103-run defeat to Alvechurch in Division Two.

Alvechurch made 252-8 from their 50 overs, and Croft could only manage 159 all out in reply.