BEWDLEY remain at the summit of Worcestershire County League Division One after a thrilling derby draw with Stourport-on-Severn.

The leaders salvaged a share of the spoils as skipper Jack Mills bagged two wickets in the final over to leave the scores tied.

Bewdley batted first on the good Stourport pitch and will have felt their total of 234 was a little under par. Rob Combes was the main contributor with a fluent 95 which took his total for the season well past 500, and Jon Inglis (33) and Gareth Lewis (26) also made important contributions.

Jack Mills (32 not out) helped Combes in a partnership of 36 in quick time, and then teased another 20 out of the last two wickets.

Charlie Foley (3-31) and Matt Delo (2-47) were the main Stourport wicket takers.

After the loss of an early wicket, Neil Bailey (39) and Ryan Derrick (42) batted well and then Andy Siwicki (53) and Greg Massingham (64), with a combination of excellent running and powerful hitting, reduced Stourport's requirement from 100 off 11 overs to a mere 24 from four, with five wickets in hand.

Rob Crane was entrusted with the 47th over and got Siwicki to hole out to Simon Mauger on the deep mid-wicket boundary. Then, in his next over, Steve Yarsley was run out and Craig Siwicki was caught at mid-on.

Spinner Mills was left to bowl the final over with just two runs needed by Stourport.

Massingham was trapped leg before from the very first ball before Foley scrambled a single to bring the scores level with just two balls remaining.

With the clash still hanging in the balance, Matt Delo was bowled with the penultimate delivery and the game finished in a tie, with each side having to be content with 16 points apiece.

Bewdley skipper Mills was happy with the draw after a thrilling contest.

He said: "It was a match that swung one way then the other throughout the day. There was never a clear winner at any point.

"Our total with the bat was a little under par but I thought we bowled reasonably well. We started well, lost our way a little but then dragged it back again at the end.

"I think Stourport would have been more aggrieved than us to tied the game.

"Andy Siwicki and Greg Massingham batted brilliantly and they would still have backed themselves to win it in the last over needing two runs."

Stourport captain Craig Siwicki feels it was a big opportunity missed for his side, adding: "We were happy with the total we set and would have taken that at the start.

"It looked like we were going to win but I think the pressure just got to us at the end and we missed a big chance.

"It felt like a kick in the teeth at the time but looking back we played really well and will take a lot of positives from the game. It feels like we're heading in the right direction now."

Bewdley will look to stay in top spot when they host Worcester this Saturday (1pm). However, they will have to cope without bowlers Mills, Martyn Carr and Andy Platt. Matt Woodcock and Joe Smith could step up from the seconds.

Meanwhile, Stourport are due to travel to face Burghill, Tillington and Weobley (1pm).