Cricket
Pershore go further clear

A MASSIVE effort by players and helpers enabled leaders Pershore to face Coombs Wood in the only game in Worcestershire League Division One to go ahead at The Bottoms on Saturday.

After much mopping up throughout the afternoon, the pitch was deemed playable at just before 5pm and a 25-overs per side match was scheduled.

Under still threatening clouds and after winning the toss, Pershore skipper Chris Ridings asked Coombs Wood to bat.

The visiting batsmen played their shots from the outset but they lost wickets at regular intervals against the pace of Luke Dalley and only a hard hit innings from Sam Perruzza (36) saved a total collapse.

Unfortunately for Pershore, a mid-innings break of 34 minutes saw the match further restricted to 40 overs and the Coombs Wood innings closed on 113 with one ball remaining of their allotted overs. Dalley finishing with an impressive seven wicket haul.

With only 15 overs to achieve an outright win, Pershore made a valiant effort from the outset but a combination of bad running between the wickets and poor strokes saw the innings slump to 35 for 5.

With the home side’s innings in great danger of imploding, Ridings held firm to ensure there were no more catastrophes as he played out time and guided the reply to 46 for 6.

It ensured Pershore gained an important four bonus points in their quest for the title and they are now ten points clear at the top of the table.

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