THE poor start to the season continued for Ledbury seconds after they slumped to a fourth successive defeat.

They lost by nine wickets at home to Strollers in Marches Cricket League Division Three.

Batting first after winning the toss, Ledbury started steadily, despite a fiery opening burst from the bowlers, with Rob Yeoman and Stu Evans adding 34 for the first wicket.

Yeoman (12) fell in the 12th over but the next five batsmen contributed only nine runs between them. Ledbury slumped to 60-6 and were on the brink of humiliation with Simon Albright taking 3-11.

Evans held firm and found support from Steve Large as they contributed a seventh-wicket stand of 50 to take Ledbury to the verge of respectability.

In a welcome return to form after a poor 2014, Evans showed there were no demons in the pitch as he passed 50.

Large fell for an invaluable 15 but Evans was undefeated on 65 as Ledbury closed on 125-7 from 45 overs. The hosts needed early wickets but dropped three catches and Strollers’ openers Richard Lerego and Alex Carter soon got on top to take the visitors halfway towards their victory target.

Large bowled Carter (31) but new batsman Mark Powell took on Ledbury’s attack.

Lerego contributed a steady 37 but Powell raced to 44 as Strollers reached their target in the 25th over to leave bottom-of-the-table Ledbury still searching for their first win of the season.