DROITWICH Spa leapt to the top of Worcestershire Cricket League Division Nine with a comfortable nine-wicket opening victory over visiting Alveley.

Ben Foster claimed 4-12 after Nick Sankey claimed 3-17 from 12 overs as Alveley were dismissed for just 93.

Mark Smith (37 not out) and Harry Staley (30) shared a half-century opening stand as Spa cruised home in the 22nd over.

West Malvern lie second as Daniel Walker claimed 5-48 to dismiss Five Ways Old Edwardians for 173.

Old Elizabethans are third as they bowled out visiting Himley for 100 in 26.1 overs to win by 89 runs.

OEs were in trouble at 17-4 but Simon Ward (38), Andy Harn (32) and Will Gurpinar-Morgan (35) dragged them to 189 all out.

In reply, Joe Morrison (3-16) and Harn (3-23) combined to blow the top order away before Zain Baig picked up 3-19.

Worcester won a close home encounter by one wicket against Himbleton but Ben Tanner's 6-35 almost won the day for the visitors.

Yassir Hussain took 5-56 for Worcester before openers Dave Robinson scored 63 and Ateeb Bashir 56.

Ombersley were left frustrated with a winning draw as Tenbury ended eight wickets down and well short on 96-8.

George Baldwin hit 80no for the villagers.

Evesham chased down Harborne’s 265-9 to win in Division Six.

Old Vigornians began the season with a heavy eight-wicket defeat at home to Oldswinford and Stourbridge Social.

Debutant Chris Morrall top scored with 29 as OVs were dismissed for 136 in the 41st over.

In Division Seven, James Owens scored 87no, Martin Reece-Pitt 74 and Michael Reece 70 as Bromyard thrashed Kidderminster by 231 runs.

Joseph Vose posted 149 for Harvington who beat Himley by five wickets in a high-scoring match.

Rushwick won by five wickets at Stourport after chasing down 182-9.

Burghill, Tillington and Weobley marched to the top of Division Eight as 14-year-olds Harry Sockett (136) and Luke Powell (107) starred in a 217-run win over Kempsey.

Mike Sloan compiled 102no for Birlingham as they thrashed newcomers Wyre Foresters by 194 runs.

Mark Whitehead scored 123no for Avoncroft as they beat Claverley by seven wickets.

RESULTS - DIVISION SIX

Hallow Taverners 132 a/o 1, Alveley 133-2 20. Alveley won by 8 wickets.

Kidderminster 3rd 210 a/o 16, Belbroughton 2nd 105-8 5. Kidderminster winning draw.

Harborne 4th 265-9 6, Evesham 2nd 271-6 24. Evesham won by 4 wickets.

Old Vigornians 2nd 136 a/o 2 T Griffiths 4-22, Oldswinford & SS 2nd 138-2 20 R Iqbal 66*. Oldswinford won by 8 wickets.

Cookley 2nd 195-6 4, Pedmore 2nd 196-4 20. Pedmore won by six wickets.

Stourbridge 3rd 356-5 17 J Nazir 191*, Enville 2nd 230-8 6 A Ahmed 94. Stourbridge winning draw.

DIVISION SEVEN

Barnt Green 3rd 252 a/o 24 F Hanson 70 - C Koralgage 4-56, Bartestree & Lugwardine 2nd 114 a/o 1. Barnt Green won by 138 runs.

Old Hill 3rd 157 a/o 24, Cutnall Green 1st 117 a/o 5. Old Hill won by 40 runs.

Highley 289-3 24 J Tanser-Harvey 93*, M Hover 82*, Bromsgrove 4th 123 a/o 2 J Tanser Harvey 7-23. Highley won by 166 runs.

Himley 3rd 249-6 6 O Baker 87, T Wall 67*, Harvington 250-5 24 J Vose 149. Harvington won by 5 wickets.

Bromyard 2nd 347-4 24 J Owens 87*, M Reece-Pitt 74, M Reece 70, Kidderminster 4th 116 a/o 2. Bromyard won by 231 runs.

Stourport 3rd 182-9 5 D Williams 4-67, Rushwick 2nd 183-5 20. Rushwick won by 5 wickets.

DIVISION EIGHT

Cleobury Mortimer 1st 147 a/o 24 S Evans 73 - H Summers 4-16, Astwood Bank 4th 74 a/o 4 S Evans 4-11, H Booton 4-11. Cleobury Mortimer won by 73 runs.

Claverley 2nd 251-7 5 N Ahmad 79, S Gulfam 77 - J Downing 4-63, Avoncroft 2nd 252-3 20 M Whitehead 123. Avoncroft won by 7 wickets.

Birlingham 256-9 24 M Sloan 102* - R Keenan 4-54, Wyre Foresters 62 a/o 4 M Downes 4-12. Birlingham won by 194 runs.

Burghill Tillington & Weobley 2nd 310-6 24 H Sockett 136, L Powell 107 - M McCollum 5-47, Kempsey 2nd 93 a/o 3 P Wall 4-41. Burghill, Tillington & Weobley won by 217 runs.

Alvechurch & Hopwood 2nd 125 a/o 3 M Pearson 4-14, S Davies 4-21, Eastnor 2nd 128-6 20 R Watkins 57*. Eastnor won by 4 wickets.

Martley 2nd 91 a/o 1 J Cox 5-17, Bredon 2nd 92-2 20. Bredon won by 8 wickets.

DIVISION NINE

Alveley 2nd 93 a/o 1 B Foster 4-12, Droitwich Spa 3rd 95-1 24. Droitwich Spa won by 9 wickets.

West Malvern 2nd 213-8 24 B Levings 51 - H Murray 5-59, Five Ways Old Edwardians 2nd 173 a/o 5 D Walker 5-48. West Malvern won by 40 runs.

Old Elizabethans 3rd 189 ao 24 J McKaig 5-22, Himley 4th 100 a/o 5. Old Elizabethans won by 89 runs.

Romsley & Hunnington 2nd 242-7 17 J Bissell 66, M Peverelli 51* - D Colesby 4-54, Stourbridge 4th 131-8 4. Romsley & Hunnington winning draw.

Ombersley 3rd 190-5 16 G Baldwin 80*, Tenbury 96-8 3. Ombersley winning draw.

Himbleton 2nd 190 a/o 7 Y Hussain 5-56, Worcester 3rd 191-9 20 D Robinson 63, A Bashir 56 - B Tanner 6-35. Worcester won by 1 wicket.