On a damp pitch, Willoughby lost Manny Sidhu early on before Ashley Rayner (for 6) and Martin Nichols (for 11) both also departed to reduce them to 67 for 3. However Stevenson in at four looked in good touch with Dave Alcock put on a fourth wicket stand of 82 before the latter went for 24.

However Stevenson was now well set and with support from Richard Foxon and then skipper Ben Hollis deservedly reached his century as the visitor’s innings drew to a close; his 102 not out containing 15 boundaries and as one commentator put it was a ‘ well-crafted innings of obdurate defence, deft flicks and no shortage of timing and power’.

Willoughby’s total of 205-5 on an improving wicket would be a test for Bodicote but not insurmountable, however they were soon in early trouble at 20 for 2 as Jake Quinney (2 for 27) cleaned out the stumps of opener Symington and number three bat Allen.

Lee Johnson from the other end typically also kept matters tight with a ten over spell of 0 for 30, but remaining opener Miller and skipper Lawrence weathered that early storm and set about a recovery. That was until their partnership reached 87 and the rain which had threatened eventually came. With the score at 107-2 off 24 overs and the game in the balance at this point, the rain became heavier to a point that there was no possibility of a resumption; the upshot being Willoughby were three runs ahead and 0.1 runs ahead on run rate at the corresponding point in the first innings and duly had earned victory.

A valuable 20 points for the visitors gives them a small cushion in their efforts to stay out of the bottom two and retain their Premier Division status with now only two games to go.

Match scorecard on our Play-Cricket website here