Stourbridge 292-8

Knighton-on-Teme 203-6

CHASING a huge victory target Knighton overcame a desperate start to easily hold out for a draw and knock visiting Stour-bridge off the top of Division Five of the Crusader Worcest-ershire County League.

Ironically their main rivals Highley had no such problem as they were awarded maximum points because opponents Teme Valley could not raise a side.

Ali Hussain (41) and Afzal Ali (37) and Naveed were the main contributors as Stourbridge reached 194-7 with just over ten overs to go. This brought Ajay (39 not out) to the wicket and the pair added 98 for the eighth wicket to put the game beyond the home team.

Naveed struck 6x6's and 13x4's in his 106 before being out off the penultimate ball. John Griffiths (2-36) and Richard Powell (2-53) bowled well for Knighton.

As if the target was not difficult enough, it became impossible when both openers Mark Evans and Bob Gittens departed without troubling the scorer. Powell (40) mounted a one-man recovery but when he became the fourth man back in the pavilion with only 64 on the board an early finish looked inevitable.

Tony Batt (50) and Rob Cadle (65 not out) had other ideas and in-spite of the visitors using nine bowlers, Knighton batted out for a losing draw and passing 200 to pick-up maximum batting points.