WORCESTERSHIRE Over 60s ended their campaign with a seven-wicket victory at Northamptonshire.

Gerald Wadley claimed 5-48 as Northamptonshire fell for 181 on the last ball of the 45 overs at Great Oakley CC.

Trevor Knowles and Martin Woodward opened the visitors' attack and tied down Northants to 21-2 from nine overs.

Both wickets fell to Knowles with the aid of catches by keeper Roger Price and Woodward.

Hall Craddock and Dick Steff revived the home innings despite continuing accurate bowling by Knowles (2-24 off nine overs) and his replacement Bob Gittens (0-36).

Steff had to retire ill and was replaced by Stuart Hardy who was stumped by Price to give Wadley his first wicket. Craddock eventually fell for 62 and the returned Steff for 36 as Worcestershire contained the home batsmen and claimed regular wickets.

Northants were all out for 181 with Wadley bowling superbly and the accurate Woodward taking 2-15 as well as three catches.

Price produced an excellent display with three catches and a stumping.

The Worcestershire innings started badly with two wickets falling for 12 runs.

But Knowles (80) produced his best innings of the season, adding 131 at four-and-a-half runs an over with John Shepherd.

Shepherd (62 not out) and Barry Briscoe (19no) continued the good batting to see the visitors home with two overs to spare.

At Harvington, Worcestershire lost by 69 runs to Hampshire.

The Hampshire openers were tied down by accurate bowling from Chris Taylor and Knowles with the latter dismissing Brian Hart for a duck in the seventh over.

But Taylor withdrew from the attack due to injury but his replacement, Graham Thorne (1-41), trapped Adams lbw.

Jim Smallbone (46) and Patrick Wickson (43) added 77 in 14 overs before Woodward dismissed them both.

A further stand of 40 followed but the visitors were unable to press home their advantage.

Wadley (2-29), Shepherd (1-42) and Woodward took further wickets, leaving Hampshire on 174-8 off 45 overs.

Woodward (3-33) and Knowles (1-14) were the pick of the bowlers.

Worcestershire's reply started well with Briscoe and Shepherd taking the score to 35-0 after nine overs.

But then disaster struck with wickets tumbling and the most inept batting of the season saw the score stumble to 105 all out.

Briscoe top-scored with 23 and only John Brookes, Price and Woodward reached double figures otherwise.

Worcestershire finished fourth in the Image Company Home Counties 60-plus Championship with four wins from eight games.

They were also victorious in four out of six friendlies.