BATTING practice is the order of the week at Droitwich Spa Cricket Club after all three Saturday sides failed in run chases.

The firsts lost by 52 runs at Oldswinford and Stourbridge Social in Division Two after restricting the hosts to 153-9 off 50 overs.

Phil Thomas had a miserly 1-37 off 17 overs while skipper Ian Cottrill took two fine catches and a run out.

Spa's reply never got going after Martyn Davies was dismissed in the first over and despite a patient stand of 30 between Jez Hanson and Kieran Wilkins a score of 50-4 seemingly had the hosts in control.

Batting with more freedom than any player on either side had shown, skipper Cottrill began compiling an innings that looked like swinging the game in his side’s favour.

But when he was adjudged lbw for 35 the remaining wickets fell quickly as Spa were bowled out for 101 in the 40th over with Tom Blunt taking five wickets for Oldswinford.

There was a similar collapse at St Peter’s Fields where the seconds fell 22 runs short of their 160-run target against Worcester in Division One.

Spa’s inexperienced bowling attack of Adam Keen, Cam Moseley and Joe Heywood helped reduce the visitors to 80-7 before the lower order rallied to double the total.

When called upon, Spa’s tail failed to wag to leave their side bottom of the table from three games.

The thirds did well to bowl out Old Hill for 240 in Division Five after their opponents went on the attack and rode their luck from the first ball with Gurpreet Singh hitting an impressive 108.

Lee Wright claimed 4-37 and Owen Roberts 2-4 to apply the brakes.

But Spa had no answer to the spin of Ravi Singh (6-33) in reply as they were shot out for just 89.

On Saturday, the firsts entertain Bartestree and Lugwardine, the seconds go to Bewdley and the thirds visit Redditch.

The fourths stage a home cup match.