Builth Wells continued their winning streak in the Worcester League Division Seven (South) with a 62-run victory at Bartestree & Lugwardine 2nds, writes Paul Worts.

The Bulls, currently fourth in the league table, posted their biggest total of the season with South African Musa Makhubela topscoring with 89 as they made 280 for 8 on the way to a fourth straight win. There were decent contributions from captain, Dylan McPhee (43), Tim Richards (28) and Neil Harris (19) but it was a 117-run seventh wicket partnership between Makhubela and Richard Galton (34), batting down the order, which really took the game away from Bartestree. Makhubela hit eleven fours and four sixes in his 83-ball knock showing what an acquisition he will be.

McPhee (2-20) took two early wickets when Bartestree batted but Chris Tulacz (68) and Lee Bartlett (43) threatened for the home side who were well in the hunt at 169 for 4. But both were dismissed by Sujeewa Senarathne (4-51) and Martin Hurst took 2-41 while Samuel Avis and Harri Phillips picked up a wicket apiece as Bartestree were all out for 218. ​

Hay made it three wins from their last three in Division Eight (South) with captain, Gareth Grant leading by example with bat and ball in an eight-wicket win at Dales (Leominster). Opening bowlers, Mark Burgess (2-45) and Huw Griffiths (2-14) reduced Dales to 66-4 and Grant (4-29) kept the pressure on before John Sly (2-6) cleaned up the tail to leave Dales all out for 162. Harvey Veale topscored with 30 and there were runs down the order from Ollie Bufton (25) and Ian Jones (23 not out).

In reply, Grant and Tim Masters put on 139 for the first wicket for Hay before Masters departed for 43 which included seven fours and a six. Grant went on to make 92 from just 50 balls with 12 fours and two sixes in another man of the match performance before Sly (9 not out) and Will Price (2 not out) saw them home in the 30th over.

Elsewhere in Division Eight (South), Kington, who have now won four from four, remain joint top after an 8 wicket win at Colwall 3rds. Jacob Houchin (4-11), Bryan Kirkham (3-20), Gary Irwin (2-5) and Joseph Houchin 1-10) rolled Colwall over for just 66 and Kington eased to the total with opener, Henry Powell making 34 not out.

Presteigne won by a huge 175 runs at home against Dales 2nds in Division Nine (Herefordshire North). Presteigne made an impressive 278 for 6 with opener and acting captain, Will Bartholomew (99) falling agonisingly short of a hundred while there were runs too for Mark Ammonds (42) on his first appearance of the term. Alan Stocker (32) and Joey Jones (24) also weighed in for the Radnorshire side. Dales were all out for just 103 with Joey Jones, who celebrated his 16th birthday earlier in the week, starring with 3-8 from five overs. Debutant, Matthew Griffiths (2-21) and Dave Austin (2-19) were also among the wickets while Morgan Speed bowled a great spell of 1-9 from his eight overs.

Presteigne are second in the table a point above Builth Wells 2nds who beat Luctonians 2nds by 53 runs in a match reduced to 33 overs. Put in to bat, Builth reached 213 for 5 with the experienced Paul Rowe (62) leading the way while Chris Jones on his seasonal debut made a quickfire 43. All the other batsmen used, Dai Davies (13), Ian Morgan (19), Jonny Curzon (16) and Eurig Towns (19 not out) also chipped in for Builth.

Luctonians fell short in their run chase at 160 for 8 despite 45 not out from Danny Jaques. Veteran, Kevin Hall took 3-25 and Ian Morgan 2-17 while there was a wicket each for Davies, Towns and Akash Srivastava.