COOKLEY cricketers completed a difficult first season in Worcestershire's top flight with a four wicket win over bottom side Oldswinford to finish in a respectable eighth place.

Oldswinford arrived at Cookley needing to claim maximum points to stand any chance of staying up and batted first but found themselves restricted to 141 for nine.

Charlie Barton belied his 16 years to claim his first five wicket haul when taking five for 31 which caused most of the damage while Aussie Jack McVey with two for 27 took his tally of wickets this season to 40.

Jaimen Rudd then reeled off 39 in reply to pass the 900 run mark for the season and together with Jat Dhadwal's 33 not out took Cookley to a comfortable win at 142 for six.

Skipper Paul Thomas said: " We set out to consolidate this year, which we have, but we know we will need to strengthen the squad to compete at this level next season."

Cookley Seconds also finished eighth but Simon Anderson's final game as skipper resulted with a heavy defeat.

Ben Quinlan scored a splendid 72 and found support from Dan Southam with 34, Liam Platt who plundered 31 not out to post a total of 192.

Excellent batting in reply saw Oldswinford's youngsters rattle past Cookley's total, losing just two wickets in the process.