Cricket
Pershore keep promotion firmly in their sights

PERSHORE maintained top spot in Worcestershire League Division One with a crushing nine-wicket victory over Pedmore at The Bottoms on Saturday.

However, their lead at the summit was reduced by four points to six by second placed Worcester Nomads, who picked up 24 points in their 37-run victory at Hagley - four more than Pershore.

There was good news elsewhere though, as Astwood Bank's title challenge continued to falter with a two-wicket loss at home to Bromyard and Pershore have a 38-point advantage over Droitwich, now in third.

Pershore skipper Chris Ridings won the toss and asked the visitors to bat and his opening attack of Luke Dalley and Joe Fowles immediately made inroads into the Pedmore top order and reduced them to 9-3.

Stuart Bate then held firm before a stand of 70 between James Burgoyne (65) and Washeem Ashia (22) helped retrieve the situation for the visitors.

However, Lee Wilks, bowling very tight off-spin, removed Ashia and when Sean Jenkins got the important wicket of Burgoyne the Pedmore tail crumbled as they lost six wickets in adding just 46 runs as their innings closed on 154.

Wilks finished with the impressive figures of 5-33 and Dalley took 3-44.

In their reply, Michael Faraday (45) proved there were little problems with the wicket and David White (50no) and Chris Ayliffe (46no) put on 99 to ease Pershore to 156-1 with 15 overs to spare.

In their quest for the title and promotion Pershore visit Worcester tomorrow for what is expected to be a hard fought local derby.

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