WORCESTERSHIRE County League division one leaders Worcester recorded a sixth straight 20 point win with success at Eastnor last Saturday.

Their efficient attack restricted the home side to 180 and they then knocked off the runs with nine overs to spare.

Cookley kept up the chase, however, and won a similar match at home to Burghill. Ben Owens, Burghill’s skipper, put up stern resistance in scoring 103 but this was in vain as Jaimen Rudd then cracked an undefeated 97 to steer Cookley home and they remain just 10 behind Worcester.

Bewdley and Hagley both benefitted from Eastnor’s defeat.

Bewdley’s good teamwork resulted in a win over Droitwich which takes them to third spot and five points behind Cookley.

Hagley climbed to fourth with Joe Lennon scoring 85 as his side made 237-8 in their 50 overs despite Colwall’s Ancil Nedd taking 5-67 and then Amjad Ali restricted the visiting side to 179 all out in under 32 overs with Ben Wheeler’s 96 in vain.

Feckenham complete the top half after they beat Stourport and the bottom three, now the only ones without a win, look destined to provide the relegation sides for this year yet surely Colwall will hit their straps soon? The final match saw a crushing defeat for Pedmore as Waqas Ali of Redditch took 6-34 as a sustained spell of accurate bowling dismissed the home side for 106 which Redditch surpassed in just over 20 overs.

So June will herald in this year’s win/lose programme with Worcester entertaining Redditch and Cookley going to Colwall.

In Division Two, leaders Bredon’s recent progress was interrupted by the weather last week but they bounced back with a fine win over Bromyard and still lead Evesham by 11 points.

Evesham have wrestled second spot from Chaddesley after winning at home against Coombs Wood despite Alex Chappell’s fine spell of 6-33 for the visitors. They now lead Chaddesley by 7 points following the latter’s winning draw with Wormelow, who are in top half despite being the only side not yet to win a match.

Enville stay fourth, beating Oldswinford thanks to Spencer Mann’s 105 and Old Vigornians won at Lye to climb to 5th ahead of Wormelow and Belbroughton who are joint sixth.

Belbroughton’s revival continued with a win at home to bottom side Harborne thanks to a captain’s example from Tom Oliver who scored 118 and took 4-33.

Next week, Bredon travel to Chaddesley for an important tie and Evesham are making the long trip to Bromyard.