WORCESTER returned to the top of Worcestershire League Division One after a comfortable winning draw at home to Bromyard.

Batting first, the Worcester opening pair of Oliver Peppiatt (19) and Jack Horton began steadily against the potent new ball attack of Zahid Saeed and Lundi Mbane.

Peppiatt was first to go, followed quickly by Daniel McKay for six, to bring overseas star Josh Barrett to the crease to join Horton.

They set about the Bromyard attack in a partnership of 61 before Horton fell for an impressive 59.

Captain Liam Kelleher joined Barrett and they increased the tempo as the skipper scored 52 from 45 deliveries and Barrett struck a classy 87.

Worcester completed their 50 overs on 272-6.

New ball bowlers Liam Weston and Matt Walters picked up a wicket apiece early on in the Bromyard reply.

However, the visitors recovered as Eral Anderson (68) and Saeed (79 not out) batted sensibly without ever really threatening the victory total.

The introduction of Horton (2-15) looked to lead Worcester to victory but Saeed ensured his side survived with a losing draw on 222-5.

Worcester are now two points ahead of Barnards Green following their five-wicket defeat at Worcester Nomads.

Green were struggling at 39-4, but Phil Harris and Chris Smedley took the score to 101 when the former was bowled by Ben Schiffmann (3-41) for 39.

Dannie Rees took out the middle order, including Smedley (36), with 3-43 before Gariff (3-18) returned to mop up the tail as Green folded to 144 off 47 overs.

In reply, Nomads quickly lost Reg Dixon and Jon Inglis but Sam Roberts and Liam O’Driscoll set about repairing the damage.

Nomads seemed to be cruising to victory but the removal of Roberts (44), O’Driscoll (36) and Gariff (0) in Tom Banks’ first two overs reignited hopes for the visitors.

However, a fine unbeaten 34 from Rees, ably supported by Dean Oliver (11no) saw Nomads home with nine overs to spare.

n Droitwich Spa’s winning run came to an end in Division One with a one-wicket loss in a thrilling encounter at Romsley and Hunnington.

The visitors got off to a disastrous start, being reduced to 35-5 within the opening 15 overs.

Youngster Maxwell Young and Andy Fletcher were left to put some respectability back into the Droitwich total.

Fletcher repaid skipper Jerome Connor’s faith with a brilliant 75 after putting on 137 for the sixth wicket with Young.

Young raced to a valuable 49 before falling to the pressure of reaching his first Saturday half-century.

Fletcher fell late on after a cameo from Neil Davies and Mike Rogers had helped Spa finish on 205 all out.

Droitwich attacked from ball one of the reply but struggled to make the breakthrough.

However, once veteran Martin Woodward had taken the first wicket, the floodgates opened.

Neil Davies picked up two wickets in three balls, bringing Romsley skipper Paul Pickering to the wicket.

He did not disappoint as he hit a classy 66 to give his side the impetus before being trapped lbw for one of Rogers’ two wickets.

Wickets continued to fall with Woodward’s variety of spin proving too good for the hosts.

Woodward claimed four wickets to give Spa a slight chance of claiming an unlikely victory.

However, the last pair hit the required runs to give Romsley a much-needed win.

Division Four South leaders Old Vigornians returned to winning ways with a seven-wicket success at Martley for whom Paul Bibby scored 115.

Tenbury stayed second in the table by beating bottom-placed Old Elizabethans by 18 runs after Andy Adams claimed figures of 8-68.