VIOLENT storms during the second innings of many matches ensured a testing time for captains and umpires in the Worcestershire Cricket League.

Division One table-toppers Pershore were held to a losing draw by Droitwich, who judged the conditions well but the Vale side's lead did not take much denting.

Worcester Nomads were just unable to force a win at Redditch and had to be content with a winning draw in a match that ebbed and flowed.

Nomads remained 45 points behind Pershore with four rounds left and Droitwich are 14 adrift in third.

Bewdley hung on to fourth just one point behind Droitwich after a win at Bromyard and Colwall stayed fifth despite their match with Hagley being abandoned.

Burghill and Tillington’s Stefan Hook took 7-21 to ensure his side’s place in Division One next season at the expense of Oldswinford and Stourbridge Social, who still have much to do to book their own place.

Pedmore won at last defending a modest total against Belbroughton to lift themselves two places to 10th.

Crisis club Bromyard are now bottom and 11 points behind Redditch, who trail Pedmore by four and Oldswinford by five respectively.

In Division Two, only Worcester Dominies managed a victory at bottom side Malvern but they did it in emphatic style by 168 runs thanks to a fine spell of bowling from Andy Hill, who took 7-58.

Dominies may yet have a say in promotion as they are 30 points off second place as Cookley have climbed over Bredon and Stourport thanks to a winning draw at Harborne thirds.

Bredon are two points behind, only registering a losing draw at home to Lye despite Tim McVicker’s 137.

Stourport have climbed to just three behind Bredon after they had to be content with a winning draw.

Coombs Wood slipped to fifth after a winning draw at Wormelow and Enville and Feckenham only managed nine overs in their second knock, abandoning early.

Division Three leaders Himbleton beat Cleobury Mortimer to move five points clear of Alvechurch and Hopwood.

Edd Rogers made another century for Alvechurch yet they were held by plucky Claverley.

Chaddesley Corbett are second following a draw with Bartestree and Lugwardine when Asif Iqbal made 147 and Tanseel Ahmadzai 100 in a massive 328 in 35 overs.

The trio are still well ahead of fourth-placed Netherton, who beat Avoncroft easily, and Bartestree are fifth.

Old Vigornians beat Alveley and Ross-on-Wye got a winning draw with Rushwick, which has aided their chances of survival as they have still to play all the sides around them.

In Division Four, Kempsey moved 46 points ahead and almost to the title after a winning draw with Halesowen thirds.

Captain Zak O’Neill scored his fourth hundred and in the process became the first player to reach 1,000 league runs this season.

High-flying Bromsgrove thirds' match was abandoned and Barnards Green thirds could only manage a losing draw at Hanley Castle and Upton.

The chase for the second promotion place intensified after Kidderminster Victoria thirds beat Oldswinford and Stourbridge Social thirds by 10 wickets and are just nine points back in fourth.

Five Ways Old Edwardians beat Harvington and Old Hill thirds defeated Martley to close in on Halesowen in 10th spot.

In Division Five, Stourport thirds' defeat at home to Astwood Bank the previous week looks to have cost them the title.

Bank thirds, who now have a 23-point advantage, beat Tenbury easily thanks to Dennis Freeman’s 6-37 and Stourport could only draw at Barnt Green thirds.

West Malvern got a winning draw in their match with Old Elizabethans thirds when storms brought an early finish but Stourbridge thirds completed their match at Enville.

Hallow piled up 341-6 against Redditch thirds with Dave Pugh scoring an imposing 151 not out.