Ross played hosts to Cleobury Mortimer in their latest Marches League Division 1 fixture and with both sides seeking a first win of the season the game took on extra importance.

Jack Donovan won the toss, asked the visitors to bat and opening bowlers Adam Parkes and Cameron Hill made a good start against the opening pair of Jake Wadhams and Ed Kemp.

Both bowlers beat the outside edge before Cleobury captain Kemp began to find his range and wrestled the initiative with a series of boundaries. Kemp went past 50 before Chloe Tingle made the first breakthrough when Wadhams (10) was caught at mid-off by Charlie Cole with the score on 70. Sam Evans joined his captain and took the score to 94 before he played on to Adam Davies (1-27) and from this point in proceedings Ross took control.

94-2 quickly became 101-5 as Tingle won two lbw shouts whilst a sharp pick up and throw from debutant Alastair Cook into Jim Lewis combined to run out another visiting batsman.

Adam Parkes (1-19) returned to the attack to take the key wicket of Kemp for 79, thanks to a well-judged catch in the deep by Alex Davies. Charlie Cole then took two excellent slip catches off the bowling of Donovan (2-17) and was followed by great fielding from Adam Davies, whose throw into Lewis enabled a second run out as Cleobury crumbled to 120 all out. Chloe Tingle was the pick of the much improved Ross bowling and fielding display with figures of 3-15 from her 6 overs.

After another excellent tea provided by Jane Donovan, Ross openers Stu Mair and Alastair Cook began the Ross reply. Kemp managed to remove both for 7 and 10 respectively before Jack Donovan hit a brisk 32 to take Ross more than halfway towards the target. When Charlie Cole and Alex Davies perished in quick succession, the hosts had 098 to 89-5 but there were relatively few further alarms for Ross as the experienced Graham Howls made a crucial 31 before Adam Parkes nine not out and Jim Lewis saw the hosts over the line for a four wicket victory and 22 precious points.