A SECOND successive whirlwind century from Muhammad Noufal Fazaludeen helped lift Ross back into second in their penultimate Worcestershire 8A league match at Ledbury.

And with a 13-point buffer to third-placed Hay, they'll be hoping Moccas can do them a favour this Saturday against the promotion-chasing Powys outfit, while they have the weekend off.

Fazaludeen made his entrance with Ross on 70-2 after 30 from Ben Rimington and 14 from Richard Jeffryes.

And he then struck a superb 132 off just 79 balls, including three sixes and 20 fours, to fire Ross to 277-8 off 45 overs, supported by Kiran Krishnan with 29, Mike Willis 16 and Albert Johnson 11.

Ledbury made a fist of it in reply, but could only reach 232-9, Amit Navalgund taking 4-40 and Fazaludeen 3-43, backed by single strikes from Krishnan and Will Brookes.

Elsewhere, Aston Ingham's 1sts are in a relegation battle after falling to a six-wicket loss at home to second-to-bottom Cheltenham 2nds.

Ed Bressington scored 58 and fellow opener Gus Carini-Roberts 35, but only Dharzekanth Yoganadan and Dan Smith with 15s also made double figures, star batsman Anthony James falling for a duck, as Aston were all out for 174.

The visitors then galloped to 176-4 in just 26 overs, Mohamed Dilshad taking two wickets, with the loss leaving Aston just 12 points above Cheltenham with two games left in the West of England Premier Gloucestershire League.

The 2nds also struggled away to Arcadians Nine Elms 1sts after being reduced to 12-4, finishing 104 all out in 35.5 overs, with the hosts then easing to 106-5 in 24.2 overs.

Clyde Breetzke made 26, and Simon Clark and Jack Davis took wicket braces.

The 3rds were involved in a much closer game away to Ruardean Hill 2nds, but lost by one run and one wicket on the last ball.

Will Green fired 63 not out backed by Mark Mathias with 21 and William King 20 in their 171-4 off 40 overs.

Hill then reached 160-8 with one over and two wickets left.

A run out on the penultimate ball left them needing two on the final ball in a nail-biting finish.

And they collected the winning score with two wides.

But Aston 4ths walloped Westbury 3rds at home, skittling the visitors for just 47 in 21.5 overs, Mike Cluley taking 4-11, Alex Cluley 2-12 and Archie Lane 2-13, with no batters reaching double figures.

Joel Fishpool then scored 31 and Alex Whitehouse 11 to ease them to 49-1 in just 6.3 overs.

Goodrich 1sts were stumped by hosts Stroud 2nds though, all out for 126 in 35 overs chasing a 40-over target of 215-4.

Matt Young took 2-37 and Sam Griffiths made 21 and Jack Waldis 17.

And the 2nds were brushed aside by Bream 1sts at The Hilltop Paradise, all out for 95 chasing 287-3 off 40 overs.

Jono Harrington top-scored with 27 and Lee Harrington made 17.

Fixtures this Saturday – Chipping Campden 1sts v Aston Ingham 1sts, Aston 2nds v Oldlands 1sts, Aston 3rds v Westbury 2nds, Yorkley 1sts v Aston 4ths, Hatherley & Reddings 3rds v Goodrich 1sts, Goodrich 2nds v Highnam Court 2nds.