DROITWICH Spa beat the weather to extend their lead at the top of Worcestershire Cricket League Second XI Division Two ahead of Saturday’s crucial visit to fellow promotion-chasers Belbroughton.

Their 97-run win at Oldswinford and Stourbridge Social, coupled with an abandoned match for their nearest rivals, put Spa 19 points clear with six matches left.

Play got under way after a 30-minute delay with James King wasting no time to put some runs on the board for Spa in the revised 45-over contest.

King made 72 and Carl Thomson 44 as Spa posted 204-9.

In reply opening bowlers Karl Goddard and Dave Stephens cut through the top order to leave Oldswinford on 32-6 and they never recovered.

Stephens claimed 4-20, Martin Woodward 3-23 and Karl Goddard 2-25.

A 120-run home defeat to Stourport means Spa are 96 points adrift of safety in First XI Division One.

Upon winning the toss they inserted Stourport who struggled against the spin of Martyn Davies and swing of Max Young.

But the visitors did not lose early wickets and got runs steadily as their confidence grew.

Opener Greg Massingham made 88 and Ryan Derrick 61 not out as Stourport scored 240-6.

Derrick and Lee Waldron then wreaked havoc with the ball as Spa crumbled to 32-7, returning 3-11 and 4-20 respectively from nine overs each.

A late 30 from Jonny Keen pushed the total to 107 before the last wicket fell in the 33rd over.

The thirds claimed a Division Five losing draw against Oldswinford as they replied with 119-7 to 180-6.

Youngster Tom Hodgson (52no) notched his maiden half-century for the fourths who lost by two wickets to Oldswinford.

Josh Sinclair grabbed 4-14 as Spa’s 131-6 proved insufficient.

On Saturday the firsts host Bewdley and the thirds and fourths take on Redditch.