SHIPSTON-on-Stour skittled the opposition's top five batsmen without score to all but secure Cotswold Hills Premier Division status for another season.

Marcus Ireland was the pick of the bowlers, claiming four of the top five en route to seven wickets for just 11 runs in nine overs overall as Shipston smashed Bretforton by 153 runs.

The hosts batted first with Matthew Corby (32), Julian Morris (22) and Jack Murphy (54) chipping away at the scoreboard.

Openers Corby and Morris put on 53 for the opening wicket but partnerships were few and far between from there, making Tom Cox's unbeaten 24 at the end welcome.

A total of 202 for eight off 45 overs was set but Bretforton had no chance once Dan Lamb, Ashley Icke, Steven Clarke, James Icke and Steven Edghill got sent packing for ducks. Bretforton finished on 49 all out, leaving Shipston well placed going into Saturday's trip to Long Itchington (1.30).

Evesham seem set to slip through the Worcestershire County League Premier Division trapdoor after an eight-wicket loss at backmarkers Feckenham.

Put in to bat, Evesham could only muster 115 for eight off 20 overs, a total their fellow strugglers surpassed with 20 balls to spare.

Tom Coulson (4-28) was the away side’s tormentor in chief, kicking off with the wicket of Wajahat Chohan for three before Evesham had reached double figures.

Nazrul Kadir (30) steadied the ship as best he could but lacked support as Coulson continued his spree.

At 35 for three things were looking bleak but Shiv Kumar (17) and Adnan Sagheer (30) dug in to briefly turn the tide at 92 for five.

From there it was one-way traffic, though, with no wagging tail en route to an attainable 115, albeit from just 20 overs.

Hope was gifted by Muhammad Saqib toppling Luke Jackson with nothing scored early in Feckenham’s response but it was short lived with Muhammad Idrees (21), Jamie Griffiths (26*) and Will Davies (52*) seeing through a comfortable second success in 18 attempts for the hosts.

It leaves Evesham some 84 points from safety with four matches remaining and defeat at home to Old Elizabethans on Saturday (1.30) would prove the final nail in the coffin.

Pershore clung on to snaffle seven points with a losing draw at title-chasing Stourbridge, also in Worcestershire Premier.

The visitors sent Stourbridge in to bat, producing 194 for seven off 50 overs with Pershore then given 38 overs to achieve a revised tally of 169.

Captain and opener Chris Ridings (61) weighed in with a strong score but support was lacking until Sam Cross contributed a crucial 29 with Lee Wilks and Charlie Norton protecting a 143 for nine that prevented defeat.

Andrew Hill took three wickets for the Plums.