LAST week's match to celebrate Evesham Cricket Clu-b's 150th anniversary and the Centenary of the club's ground at Avon Street, saw the hosts defeat a strong Worcestershire CCC side that boasted a handful of players with first team experience.

What was intended to be a 50-over match starting was redu-ced to a 40-overs-per-side contest when play finally started in miserable conditions after a three-hour delay.

The players were quickly driven from the field by another squall but, when play resumed later in the afternoon, Evesham bowled out the visitors for 169.

Young left-hander Steve Davies top scored with 58 and, in tandem with Will Gifford (39) put together the only worthwhile partnership of the innings.

For the home side, Warren Irvine bowled well but without luck, while the ever-reliable Will Bailey and pacy Rohan Vorster, a South African who plays for Chaddesley Corbett, made early inroads, as the visitors were reduced to 39-3.

After breaking the fourth wicket stand, Neal Radford and Francois Nel bundled out the rest of the visiting line-up with the latter hitting the stumps three times in quick succession.

After a further break for rain, Evesham set out in pursuit of a reduced target of 106 from 25 overs.

Stuart Berry and Matt Jackson provided a solid platform while Garry Lewis and Nel supplied the necessary acceleration as 21 runs coming off three overs from Kadeer Ali.

Berry reached his 50, an inn-ings studded with fine strokes, only to fall with one run needed for victory.

Two more wickets fell with the scores level before Bailey firmly drove the winning run.

The match was sponsored by Everatt and Company, while the match programme was sponsored by Listers VW of Evesham, who provided a display of their cars among other attractions for spectators.

The fact that play was possible at all was testimony to hard work of the groundstaff and the excellent covers.