LEDBURY powered to a 135-run success at Almeley to keep up their lead of Marches League Division Two.

Steve Evans won the toss and chose to bat in perfect conditions but Jamie Turner (0) fell to the third ball.

Matthew Ehrlich (9) also departed early but 15-year-old Josh Evans and in-form Luke Ledbury capitalised on the latter being dropped while on seven.

Ledbury smashed a record-breaking 198 not out with 17 sixes and 15 fours for the club’s highest individual league score.

Josh Evans managed 23, while the middle order imploded but Ledbury remained the aggressor.

In successive overs, he hit the first three balls for six before striking four maximums from the last six balls.

From the 38th over to the close in the 45th, the team’s total went from 152 to 250-7 through a partnership of 98 with Steve Evans (6no).

Almeley started steadily against Mike Arlott (2-40) and Si Ritchie.

Ledbury swooped with a catch off Ritchie, who then bowled the new batsman and removed the other opener to leave the hosts on 66-3.

Steve Evans and Turner kept Almeley in check before Josh Evans secured 3-10.

Turner picked up a wicket and Ritchie finished things off, backed by strong fielding, with 4-28 from 10.1 overs.

Ledbury host Marden tomorrow with players meeting at the ground at 1pm.

The seconds lost a tense contest by one wicket to Luctonians in Division Three.

Asked to bat first on a hot afternoon, Rob Yeoman and Rich Orders (25) put on 60 for the first wicket.

But the middle order struggled against the slower bowlers and Yeoman fell for 43.

Lee Clueit (28) and Jeff Arlott (17) ensured Ledbury posted a competitive 152-9.

Lucs started slowly and Steve Large forced the first wicket for the hosts after ten overs with the score on 20.

Vicky Evans claimed a vital wicket but Lucs only needed 30 runs off eight overs with five wickets in hand.

However, Large (4-23) and Vicky Evans (2-35) induced a dramatic collapse with the former claiming two victims in three balls aided by a hat-trick of Clueit catches.

But the Lucs last man swept the winning runs in the 42nd over.

The seconds visit Garnons tomorrow with players meeting at the ground for 12.30pm.