JO KHAN and Devavrat Desai both took four wickets to help Alvechurch & Hopwood tighten their grip on top spot in Worcestershire League Division Three.
The two all-rounders ripped through the Ross-on-Wye batting as Alvechurch edged to a seven-run victory on Saturday.
Alvechurch, who visit Avoncroft on Saturday, now lie 13 points ahead of second placed Himbleton and 15 clear of Chaddesley Corbett in third spot.
Alvechurch, having won the toss and batted, struggled to get on top of the bowling as wickets fell regularly.
Keith Rostill top scored with 38 off 32 balls before he fell with the score on 72 after sharing a third-wicket stand worth 38 runs – the best of the innings – with Edd Rogers.
Rodgers smacked 34 off 25 balls while Desai hit an unbeaten 32 off 38 balls to steer the hosts to 196 all out in the 40th over.
All of the Ross bowlers took wickets, with James Tiffen (2-24) the pick of them.
In reply, Ross set about their run chase with vigour as they reached 53 before Desai snapped up Tiffen (21).
He then sent Charlie Hiram and Bruno Warwick back to the pavilion, Harry Porter fell to John Pinsent, and when Khan had Daniel Barnard caught by Adam Markham-Jones – one of his four catches – half the wickets had fallen for 137.
At 159-5 Ross still fancied their chances but Khan snapped up Michael Jeffryes and two other wickets tumbled rapidly.
The visitors still edged closer to their target until Dan Wolstencroft claimed the wicket of Richard Jeffryes and then, with just eight runs needed and 21 balls to get them, Desai clean bowled Ollie O’Neill to dismiss Ross for 189.
