PERSHORE came away disappointed after failing to secure maximum points in a hard-fought game at Eastnor on Saturday.

Trevor Ridings invited the home side to bat on a two-paced wicket at the picturesque ground. With both Eastnor openers back in the pavilion with only 32 runs on the board his decision looked correct but the Eastnor middle order, led by Jabran Khalid (48), came to terms with the conditions and applied themselves to the situation and each player made substantial contributions to a final score of 223 for their allotted 50 overs.

Phil Oxley was the most successful Pershore bowler with 3-31.

In reply, Pershore got off to the worst possible start, losing a wicket in the first over and they stumbled to 62-3 by the 24th over. Oxley made a great effort to get Pershore back into the game but they were always behind the asking rate and the game looking to head for a draw with Pershore at 189-5 with just four overs left.

A great final effort by the Eastnor attack saw four wickets fall in the space of 16 balls and it was left to Oxley to bat out the last over to save the match and finish not out with a typically hard-hit 69.

Pershore's second string continued their winning sequence at home to Eastnor on Saturday.

Pershore were soon in trouble, losing both openers with only 23 on the board and at 74-3 from 22 overs they were still on the back foot.

Sam Howell then joined Steve Meers and they added 135 for the fourth wicket in only 20 overs. Howell departed for a hard hit 60 and Meers shortly afterwards for an excellent 86 and Pershore declared on 268-6 from 49 overs.

Eastnor opener Baker then led the way with a fine 107 but his side were eventually out for 241 off 48 overs.