LEDBURY seconds swooped for a comfortable second victory of the season to climb out of the Marches Cricket League Division Three relegation zone.

They enjoyed a 61-run win over visiting Kington seconds to claim a precious 23 points.

Home skipper Steve Burgess lost the toss but his Kington counterpart surprisingly opted to bowl first and Ledbury rattled up an imposing 244-7 from 45 overs.

Chris Ritchie and Rob Yeoman posted a half-century opening partnership for the third consecutive game.

Ritchie made an aggressive 43 before departing lbw but Dave Peacock and Burgess began to bat Kington out of the game.

Peacock (48) unleashed brutal back-foot drives and Burgess (41) played elegantly through the off-side in particular.

Rich Davis and Brandon Caffull both scored 19 before a three-ball 14 from Rich Griffiths, with two sixes, lifted Ledbury.

Kington’s openers shared a 50-run partnership before Peacock’s off-spin secured the first two wickets, including an acrobatic catch off his own bowling, in his 3-42.

Ledbury took a stranglehold on the game with Griffiths claiming 3-35 and Jason Belcher 1-29 in Kington’s 183-7.

Tomorrow they host local rivals Bosbury.