RAIN arrived early to scupper many matches in the Worcestershire County League where Bewdley were the main beneficiaries.

In Division One first XI the rain arrived early in the south of the region where leaders Stourport and fifth placed Worcester were abandoned early against Colwall and Burghill respectively.

Fourth placed Chaddesley were next to go as the rain swept north eastwards, ending their hopes of adding to what was already looking like a match winning score of 274-4 with the best part of 10 overs to go off against Hagley (Mohammed Sajid made 97 for Chaddesley).

In the matches that did reach conclusion Paul Taylor took 4-42 to help bowl out third placed Evesham for a low first innings 145 which provided little challenge for Bewdley, who reached their target for the loss of three wickets to join Stourport level on points at the top.

Feckenham beat Cookley on a faster scoring rate thanks to an undefeated 72 from Andrew Kings and Worcester Nomads gained a welcome win, again on a faster scoring rate over lowly Pedmore.

In Division Two first XI, matches at Bartestree (v Droitwich Spa), Kempsey (v Himbleton) and Old Vigornians (v Enville) were rained off.

Coombs Wood moved to the top of the table after an emphatic six wicket win at last week's leaders Oldswinford, Belbroughton dismissed lowly Wormelow cheaply to win by seven wickets and move to second and Bromyard found winning form against Bredon to keep their title ambitions alive with victory on a faster scoring rate thanks to 60 from Zahid Saeed and a 4-17 from overseas player Josh Van Rensburg.

Division Three first XI saw very little cricket and therefore very little change as five out of the six matches were abandoned due to the rain.

The only game to reach a conclusion was the top of the table clash between second placed Netherton and run away leaders Lye.

Lye bundled out the opposition for a modest 148 and reached a revised target for victory in 15 overs, a win that pulls them fifty-three points clear.

In Division Four first XI only two matches were lost to the weather. The games at third placed Astwood Bank (v Claverley) and the top of the table clash between Romsley and Halesowen which looked to be going Halesowen’s way before the heavens opened.

Elsewhere, West Malvern seized the opportunity to close the gap on the top three as 75 from Fergus Neve and Will Lloyd's 52 not out led them to a win on faster scoring rate at Kidderminster.

Alveley dismissed Tenbury Wells for 87 and reached their target to win by eight wickets to go sixth before the rain came.

Hallow Taverners pulled themselves out of the bottom two following a win on faster scoring rate against Stourbridge for whom Adeel Khan scored 121 and Abeer Ahmed got 82.

Matthew Roberts took 4-21 to dismiss Himley for 73 to ensure basement team Stourport notched their first win of the season.