WORCESTER Nomads ‘A’ opened up the Worcestershire Cricket Board Indoor League Division One title race with a 56-run win over Worcester.

The Bransford-based club joined Cutnall Green and RGS Worcester on 10 points in the top three.

The crucial final fixtures will see Nomads ‘A’ play Nomads ‘B’ and Green take on Malvern.

Against Worcester, a focused Nomads line-up scored 137-3 with Steve Walsh (32 not out) and Ben Schiffmann (27no) forging a comfortable partnership.

Steve Bowman added 23 before Worcester could only reply with 81-5, despite 31no from Sean D’Oliveira.

Worcester Nomads ‘B’ inflicted a sixth defeat in a row on nearest rivals Malvern, who suffered relegation as a result.

Nomads batted first and scored a big 179-2 with little in the bowling to concern them. Andy Leach (27) and Guy Davies (32no) started the run-feast before Tariq Jamil (26no) and Tom Mills (14) joined in.

Mills was run out for the first wicket on 124 before Riasat Ahmed (25no) and Matt Ormerod (20no) carried on the demolition.

Leach returned to be run out but the total proved too much for Malvern, who slumped to a 108-run defeat after being dismissed for 71 with Leach taking 3-21.

In Division Two, Colwall have dropped out of the competition after being unable to field a side to complete their fixtures.

Bewdley began fluently against Old Vigornians and went on to score 165-3 in an 85-run success.

Rob Combes scored a mammoth 53 with support from Nick Wilkinson (30no), Gareth Lewis (32) and Rob Crane (25no).

A changed OVs line-up never got to grips with the task and struggled to 80-4.

Veteran Martin Woodward gave West Malvern hope with 52no against his former team Droitwich ‘B’.

Fred Walker added 25no in their 120-4 but Spa won by three wickets after reaching 124-3.

The return of Max Young with captain Peter Gurr helped Spa finally pass the target with two balls to spare.