WORCESTER NOMADS v PERSHORE

WORCESTER Nomads Saturday 1st XI team entertained Pershore in the Division One of the Crusader Worcestershire County League.

Nomads, sponsored by Hylton Group and Duncan Fearnley, suffered their first defeat of the season, an exciting three-wicket loss at Bransford.

Put in to bat, Nomads made a disastrous start with Luke Dalley removing both Simon Harris and Malcolm Jones for ducks. Darren Lakin (20) and James Smith (25) set about repairing the damage. Lakin fell to Guy Muspratt and captain Dannie Rees joined Smith and these two moved along merrily until Sam Howell took out Rees with a brute of a ball for 30.

Veteran Martin Johnson bowled 18 tight overs and Howell finished with 3-20. Geoff Taylor (33) made the score look more respectable as Nomads folded for 144.

Pershore lost wickets steadily in their reply and a home win was never out of the question. However, captain Steve Cooper (37) and Phil Oxley steadied the ship. Oxley's unbeaten 32, as wickets fell all round him, was vital to Pershore's eventual success.

For Nomads, Vinny De-Souza took 3-31 and was well supported by Neil Thompson.