Oswestry first X1 will have been happy with their winning draw at Barnards Green in the Birmingham League last Saturday.

Beside the beautiful Malvern Hills, the Morda Road Men put in another strong, competitive performance and have now taken 44 points from their last three games.

While all eyes were on new overseas professional Rituraj Singh, who did not disappoint, it was Oswestry's South African born all-rounder Warrick Fynn who again stole the show with a brilliant century and three wickets to boot.

Heavy overnight rain appeared to have crept under the covers and made batting difficult, particularly for the first two hours of the game, and after Oswestry lost the toss they were soon in trouble.

Joe Carrasco, Worcestershire star Joe Clarke and his youngest brother Xavier all went cheaply as Oswestry were reeling at 21-3, but skipper Robbie Clarke joined Fynn as the visitors slowly but surely repaired the early damage.

The Oswestry fourth wicket pair put on an invaluable 133 before Clarke, batting with a runner, was caught in the deep for a courageous 52. It was then that Fynn took control as he and young Josh Coleridge (18) put on 66 for the fifth wicket in rapid time.

Fynn finally departed for 140 which included 13 fours and five sixes.

It was another exhibition of top class batting from the left hander as he remorselessly punished the bad ball, and took no unnecessary risks, scoring freely all round the wicket.

Oswestry closed on 242 of 53.3 overs with Phil Harris and Ryan Tongue both taking three wickets each.

Set a revised target of 243 from 38 overs under the Duckworth/Lewis rules, the home side had reached 42 without loss when veteran seamer Ian Davies made the initial breakthrough, having opening batsman Tongue brilliantly caught by Joe Clark at short-mid wicket. Davies then dismissed Oli Swift and Clarke's county colleague and danger man, George Rhodes, in quick succession as he finished with figures of 3-37.

Fynn returned identical figures to those of Davies, also off eight overs, but it was Singh who impressed most with the ball, with a return of 2-29 from his 11 overs.

The Indian pace man constantly probed at the home batsman, skilfully changing his pace and direction and having a number of appeals for LBW turned down – Singh could prove a real handful for batsman this season with his skiddy action and ability to move the ball both ways.

Singh also took a fine catch in the deep to dismiss opener Adam Wiffen for 60 off Fynn, as the Worcestershire side closed on 154-8, well short of their target.

Meanwhile, it was better times for a much-strengthened Oswestry 2nd X1 who beat Lichfield at the Stonehouse Oval by 165 runs to move off the bottom of the table. Josh Kirk (38) looking for a quick return to the first team particularly impressed, as did skipper Jonnie Davies who was run out for a well-struck 40. Josh Darly made a useful contribution of 21. Chris Catterell returned the excellent figures of 5-29 with young Darly claiming 3-17, as the visitors were bowled out for 111.