LEDBURY boosted their Marches Cricket League Division One relegation fight with a second successive victory.

They followed up their first league win of the season against Kington by recording a nail-biting six-run success at second-placed Luctonians thanks to their best display of the campaign.

Ledbury remain in the drop zone but are boosted for a trip to bottom-of-the-table local rivals Canon Frome tomorrow.

Dave Nash inspired the town side against Luctonians with a fine all-round display, scoring 65 and taking 2-56.

After winning the toss, Ledbury skipper Steve Evans elected to bat first and their re-jigged batting line-up vindicated the decision.

Paddy Merryman returned from a good second XI run and, while having some fortune, regularly found the boundary in a quick-fire 40, offering the perfect foil to the more watchful Josh Evans (21) in an opening stand of 69.

They departed in successive overs but this did little to slow Ledbury’s run-rate as Paul Andrews (32) looked in good touch.

The rest of the innings was dominated by Nash, who paced his innings perfectly from collecting singles to attacking in the latter part of his innings with four sixes.

Matt Ehrlich (16) and Luke Ledbury (27), showing signs of rediscovering his form, provided support in Ledbury’s 255-9 from 45 overs.

In reply, Lucs’ powerful batsmen looked confident of knocking the runs off with Duncan Platford and Hamish Light blasting 86 for the first wicket in nine overs.

But Ledbury had the bowling attack to take wickets and after Nash removed Platford (13), Neil Andrews (2-61) took the prize wicket of James Platford to give renewed hope.

Nash found an extra yard of pace to induce Light (74) to edge behind and leave Lucs on 139-5.

The lower order found it difficult to get Nash and Steve Evans (2-53) away as both delivered economical spells to push the required run-rate up to nine-an-over.

In a thrilling finish, Josh Evans (3-47) returned to take the key wicket of Chris Ibbetson (33) and then claimed Paul Davies and Tom Jay in successive balls.

Lucs needed 13 to win from the final over but Chris Burke (46 not out) could only pick up seven while surviving a dropped chance at long-on as the hosts finished on 249-9.

l Bottom-of-the-table Eastnor lost by seven wickets at home to Old Elizabethans in Birmingham and District Premier League Division Two.

They were all out for 200 despite Shameer Ahmed’s 75 and 55 from Atiq Ur Rehman.