A FINE display of seam bowling by Paul Robinson, Mudassir Pasha and Ian Davies set up a comfortable win for Oswestry's cricketers against Pershore at Morda Road on Saturday.
The result lifted Mark Robinson's side two places above the relegation zone in Division Three of the Birmingham League, and completed a double over their Worcestershire visitors.
The home skipper got things right from the start when he won the toss and asked Pershore to bat on a rain-affected wicket.
Paul Robinson struck with the fifth ball of the match when he bowled Joe Taylor without a run on the board, and wickets continued to fall steadily.
Pershore were dismissed for 93, with Paul Robinson ending on 4-36, Pasha 3-34 off 17 overs, and Davies 3-15. Only skipper Liam Wilks put up any resistance for Pershore, and he was last man out for a battling 50.
Alex Huxley and Pasha got Oswestry's reply off to a great start, and by the time Pasha was dismissed for 36, it was practically game over at 72-1. Huxley went on to reach 50 not out as the target was reached at 95-2.
This Saturday, Oswestry travel to league leaders Eastnor (noon).
Oswestry Seconds' good run came to a halt as they suffered a 72-run defeat at Pershore.
The home side ran up 230-7 in their 50 overs, with two wickets apiece for Max Payne, Dave Vart and Jim Phillips.
Oswestry were then bowled out for 158, the chief contributions coming from Steve Humphreys (45) and skipper Alex Brindle (35).
There was no joy either for Oswestry Thirds and Fourths, both struggling at the foot of their respective divisions in the FBC Manby Bowdler Shropshire League.
The Thirds lost by 103 runs at Iscoyd and Fenns Bank, who hit 230-5 from their 40 overs.
Paul Baker (37no) and Iwan Roberts (26) were their top scorers in Oswestry's all-out reply of 127.
John Hulme, making his first appearance of the season after recovering from injury, made 32 of the Fourths' 88-9 against Wellington Fifths, with Josh Kirk adding 19.
Wellington cruised to victory at 92-1.