OLD Hill skipper Danny Cox confirmed his side would strive to improve after pulling off a pulsating one-wicket win over promotion rivals Leamington Spa to remain right in the thick of Birmingham League Division One’s promotion race.

His younger brother Billy-Jo Cox and Lancashire’s Toby Lester kept a tight rein on Leamington’s early top-order batsmen before left-arm spinner Nigel Davenport made his usual impact with the ball.

Davenport, who is Division One’s leading wicket-taker, took his season’s tally of victims past the 50 mark as he claimed figures of three for 33 from his 14 overs.

Lester (3-60) also prised out three wickets, while opening bowler Billy-Jo Cox claimed two for 38 off his 12 overs.

They all helped restrict Leamington to 183 all out, which seemed well below par on a high-scoring Haden Hill batting track.

Old Hill appeared to cruising home in reply as Monil Patel made 53, while skipper Cox himself cracked a further 37 off og just 31 balls.

But from a seemingly winning position of 149 for three, Old Hill suffered a sudden collapse which saw them slip to 167 for eight, before wicketkeeper Dan Brosnan saved the day with a match-winning 20 not out to see his side home on 184 for nine.

Danny Cox said: “We made hard work of winning when we should have won the game much more comfortably.

“I was concerned about the collapse and I will be talking to the players about it during training this week.”

Old Hill climb to second place behind Walsall as a result of this win and Cox will look to continue his side’s good form when they travel to Malvern-based side Barnards Green this Saturday.

Improving Old Hill won’t lack for support in Malvern. They have already booked up a coachload of supporters while others plan to make their way there independently.

Cox confirmed: “The support we’ve received has been fantastic all season. We must have had several hundred people coming in and out during the game with Leamington and it’s something the players really appreciate.”