A MAGNIFICENT partnership of 131 for the sixth wicket between Paul Bryan and Max Young guided Droitwich to a five-wicket win against Bromyard in Worcestershire Cricket League Division One.

Coming together with the Spa innings in tatters at 24-5, Bryan and Young initially stopped the rot against the pace of Sri Lankan Dinusha Fernando (3-58) and swing of Greg Leighton, before seizing the initiative against the change bowlers.

Young hit the winning runs with three overs left to finish on 91 not out, while Bryan added an equally invaluable unbeaten 38 as Spa claimed 20 points.

Bromyard appeared to be heading for a big score in difficult batting conditions as their openers Ashley Bullock (38) and Edd Oliver (21) put on 55 for the first wicket.

Jake Young (5-50) and Adam Crowle (3-24) then ripped the heart out of the visitors’ batting as they collapsed to 69-5. However, the experienced Zahid Saeed (38) led a fightback which enabled Bromyard to post 155 all out, but it turned out to be not enough.

Elsewhere, Worcester finally found their winning form with a 90-run victory on a tough wicket at the Gordon Jones Memorial ground against Hagley.

Oliver Peppiatt (37), Andrew Robertson (22), Jeff Case (21), Dan Keyte (57) and Adam Rimell (20) all contributed with the bat as Worcester finished on 237-9.

Despite struggling to find an early breakthrough, Worcester kept the scoring rate down and the introduction of captain Liam Kelleher saw wickets begin to fall, but Hagley still looked well positioned at 123-3.

However the combination of Liam Weston (2-31) and Kelleher (5-34) destroyed the middle order before Robertson dismissed the final two batsmen to secure victory.

Division One leaders Pershore visited 11th-placed Colwall seemingly well-poised to extend their lead at the top, but were thrashed by 130 runs and surrendered their 10-point lead to Astwood Bank, who crushed Coombs Wood.

Worcester Nomads jumped three places to third after they managed a narrow two-wicket win thanks to 5-32 from JJ Dilley and an unbroken ninth-wicket stand of 44.

So the top of division is still very congested as the leading seven are covered by 30 points and the bottom five teams are separated by only 21.

Division Two saw two matches called off and a change in leadership after Bewdley defeated long-term front-runners Stourport to go eight clear. Worcester Dominies are joint second with Stourport following a comprehensive mauling of Feckenham.

Division Three’s leaders Cookley are still ahead of second-placed Harvington, who bowled Chaddesley out for 76 thanks to Johannes Venter’s 6-13, after an 18-point winning draw at Harborne.

Division Four new leaders Avoncroft beat Old Vigorninans thanks to 131 not out from Dave James and 6-21 from Paul Athey.

OVs posted 181 in tough batting conditions with their innings was built around a 96-run sixth-wicket stand between Phil O’Neill (68) and Phil Mackie (30). Jabba Riaz bowled a superb spell for the OVs, but James’ onslaught took Avoncroft to victory.