A SUPERB century from skipper Ben Wheeler and crucial wickets from Johnno and Mike Gooch saw Colwall snatch a nail-biting six-run home victory over Redditch in Worcestershire League Division One.

Wheeler made a valuable 104, including two sixes and 14 fours, as Colwall reached 237 all out before the Gooch brothers took seven of Redditch’s 10 wickets in a thrilling win at Stowe Lane.

Batting first, Colwall made a reasonable start, with openers Joe Blight (21) and Nick Brown (24) adding 59 off 14 overs.

Brown was trapped lbw before two more wickets tumbled as James Abel was caught and Ben Butler was run out. Blight and Ben Cooke soon followed, but Ben Febery (12) gave Wheeler solid support as they put on 56 runs for the sixth wicket.

With Wheeler well into his stride, he formed a 76-run partnership with Ancil Nedd (23) before departing.

Chasing 238 to win Redditch slipped to 30-2 as Mike Gooch had both openers caught by Brown and Wheeler in his opening five overs.

But Russell Southwick (68) and Brandon Weal (57) then put on 104 for the third wicket as the visitors took control.

Further solid batting by the middle order pushed the total past the 200-mark, but in the closing overs Mike Gooch (3-38) and Johnno Gooch (4-47) induced a collapse and when keeper Wheeler took his fourth catch, the victory was sealed as a frustrated Redditch were left high and dry on 231-9.

Colwall, who are in seventh place, host Stourport tomorrow (1pm).

The seconds went down by six wickets to the Redditch counterparts in Second XI Division One.

None of the Colwall batsmen managed to exert any dominance as they were bowled out for just 114 as Redditch passed the target in the 27th over.

Put in to bat Cleobury slipped to 10-2 as keeper Gary Nicholson took excellent catches off Ash Jones and Harry Evans to send back both openers.

But James Manley (55) and Kemp (17) put on 73 for the third wicket before both falling to Alex Whittaker in an accurate six-over spell.

Ben Griffiths (60) and Oliver Roland (48no) took advantage of several dropped catches to add 88 for the fifth wicket.

Although Whittaker came back to finish with a fine 4-25 return from his 10 overs Cleobury pushed their total to 235-8 before the 45 overs elapsed.

Spinner Harry Evans then (5-51) picked up three wickets as Colwall slipped to 78-3 after an opening stand of 41 from John Card (41) and Dick Tugwell.

Ewan Buttle stood firm with a patient 44 before Nicholson and Ash Jones pulverised the home attack with a barrage of big hitting.

Nicholson smashed five sixes and six fours in his rapid 57 before he was caught on the boundary.

Jones scored even faster, thrashing five sixes and six fours in a whirlwind unbeaten 61 off five overs with his last huge six over the pavilion sealing victory with seven overs in hand.

A makeshift Colwall fourths did very well to collect 12 points from their losing draw at home to Hay on Wye.

They bowled the visitors out for 215 before reaching 162-6 in reply.