BEWDLEY maintained their strong start to the Worcestershire Division Two by defeating Lye by 16 runs.

Chasing a meagre 155, Lye looked well positioned 138-5 chasing down Bewdley’s 154.

But Rob Combes (3-13) and Jack Mills (4-17) polished off the Lye innings without further addition to the score.

Nick Wilkinson held on to a steepler at long-on, and Mills and Combes, both bowling very straight, forced three palpable lbw decisions.

Watched by a sizeable crowd, Lye saw their hopes crumble in the course of 20 minutes.

Earlier, Andy Platt (2-18) had again bowled well.

Bewdley’s total of 154 owed much to Combes (40) and even more to no fewer than 64 extras, mostly wides.

Bewdley host Cookley on Saturday in a battle of in-form sides (1pm start). The Lower Lane side leapfrogged Cookley into second place with their win.

Meanwhile, the seconds saw off Hagley by 19 runs.

Put in into bat, Bewdley made 176 all out on a bowler friendly surface, with Rob Drake (28), Dave Jones (27) and Jon Elmer (38) playing well.

Bewdley then bowled tightly and were backed up by a fantastic fielding display.

Grant Morris produced a stunning catch dismiss the dangerous Hurst (19), Tom Weaver (1-26) and Dave Jones (2-22) bowled excellently in tandem restricting scoring and picking up wickets.

Hagley reached 67-4 in the 25th over but Ewan Peer’s four wickets saw them fall 19 runs short.