ONLY six matches were started out of a scheduled programme of 72 Worcestershire Cricket League fixtures as the weather again took its toll.

The overall percentage of abandoned games for the season is now nudging 40 per cent.

Tireless work by the ground staff, players and helpers, however, enabled the Pershore-Worcester Nomads’ Division One match to go ahead at The Bottoms in a game that was restricted to 30 overs per side.

Nomads skipper Ben Schiffman won the toss and asked the home side to bat on a wet but playable pitch and his bowlers made full use of the conditions in making scoring very difficult.

Openers Tim Smith (31) and David White (37) laid the foundations but it was Lee Wilks with a blistering 49 from just 36 balls that enabled Pershore to post a competitive score of 144 from their allotted overs.

In reply, Nomads were never up to the required scoring rate and scored just 18 from the first nine overs. Liam O’Driscoll then came to the wicket and a quick 27 looked like retrieving the situation.

However, in the gathering gloom, the rate again dropped and with the rain now falling heavily, the sides were just able to complete the 25 overs that constituted a match as Nomads reached 92-5.

This gave Pershore a winning draw in addition to bonus points, and enabled them to increase their lead at the top of the table.

Division Four saw one match played and it was a one-sided affair at Hanley Castle and Upton where the home side asked Barnards Green thirds to bat in a 38 overs a side match and then watched them rack up 249-3. Andy Wheeler smashed a fine 103 in less than ideal batting conditions.

The Hanley innings was further reduced to 35 overs and they were hanging on at 79-8 at the close.