MORE than 600 runs were scored as Pershore secured a losing draw at The Bottoms against Penkridge in Birmingham League Division Three.

Two centuries saw Penkridge virtually out of sight with 320-1 and the hosts eventually closed on 291-8.

After winning the toss, skipper Stephen Cooper asked the visitors to bat on a very good wicket and his bowlers were in for afternoon of hard work. The sedate rate of two runs per over from the first 10 left no indication of the massive total Penkridge were to score from their 55 overs.

Following Chad Clarke's dismissal for 40 in an opening stand of 74, Ben Holmes and Toby Morrell started to plunder the Pershore attack to all parts of the ground. They added 246 runs in 35 overs.

Despite constant bowling changes, Pershore were never able to stem the runs and Lee Wilks was the only bowler to take a wicket, Morrell finishing on 137 not out and Holmes unbeaten on 118 for the visitors in a score of 320-1.

Pershore got away to the worst possible start in reply, having both openers back in the pavilion with only 12 runs on the board.

David White and Wilks laid the foundation for a possible victory by adding 136 for the third wicket.

Once White was dismissed for 68 and Wilks for 76, only David Powles (42no) was able to carry the attack to the visitors and force a possible win as the remainder of the middle order failed to capitalise.

A brief flurry from Cooper (32no) pushed the score along, but by this time Pershore were well behind the required rate and were eventually forced to bat out the last three overs to obtain a draw, their innings closing on 291-8.

n Pershore Seconds suffered a nine-wicket defeat against Penn.

Pershore were asked to bat and achieved a laborious 171 all out in 49 overs with useful contributions from Rob Handley (32), Luke Dalley (24), Chris Ridings (28) and Richard Meers (22no).

In reply, Penn quickly knocked off the required runs, with Handley getting 77no and Bhogal 44no.

Plunged

Meanwhile, Bromsgrove plunged to within a point of the Division One relegation zone after a poor performance against Harborne.

Poor batting followed up by indifferent bowling saw the Boars lose by nine wickets.

Skipper Nick Davies won the toss and chose to bat first full of confidence after last week's victory.

Davies and Nick Edwards put on 42 for the first wicket against a tame bowling attack, but the pair went in consecutive overs.

Jordan Rose was the only batsman to stand firm as wickets began to fall around him.

He top scored with 30 as Bromsgrove crawled to 141 all out in the 51st over.

A good bowling performance was needed, but too many boundaries were conceded early on.

Gear and Bailey both finished on 57no as the visitors cruised to victory in 22 overs.

Bromsgrove Seconds recorded a six-wicket victory over King Heath.