WORCESTER came away with an imperious victory from their trip to struggling Redditch, winning by seven wickets in Worcestershire League Division One.

Skipper Liam Weston took an early wicket which seemed to have vindicated his decision to insert Redditch, but home captain Luke Davis and Russell Southwick (42) counter-attacked and progressed to 80-1 in 15 overs.

The Redditch middle order struggled against spin as wickets fell at regular intervals, including Davis for a well constructed 53. Geoff Eley (40) looked to accelerate the innings but Matt Walters (4-64) helped restrict Redditch to 216 all out.

The Worcester reply began impressively as young opening pair Nick Brown (54) and Olly Peppiatt (65) punished anything loose and took the score to 111-0 after 25 overs.

Despite Jeff Russell and Joseph Hill bowling well, the result was never in doubt as Dan McKay (50no) and Simon Keyte saw their side home with nine overs remaining to secure a 20-point victory. Elsewhere in the top-flight, Dannie Rees’ part-time off-spin claimed five victims as Worcester Nomads secured a resounding 111-run success at Bewdley.

Nomads were put in and left-arm spinner Jack Mills drew first blood when he had the prolific Liam O’Driscoll caught and bowled for 10.

Seamer Mike Harris, with considerable lateral movement, trapped Guy Davies and Dylan Stanley lbw.

However, opener Sam Roberts and Jon Inglis put on 117 for the fourth wicket, before Inglis was stumped off Mills for a solid 43. Roberts was finally caught, again off Mills (4-61), for a stylish 89.

With overs running out, Rees (26 not out) and Olly Swift (7no) scrambled their way to a total of 232-7.

Bewdley made a sound start against the pace of Stanley and O’Driscoll. However, Stanley pulled up injured and skipper Ben Schiffmann stepped into the breach and took a wicket.

The introduction of Rees into the attack paid immediate dividends as he had Simon Mauger lbw for five and then caught and bowled opener Nick Wilkinson for 19.

When Rees (5-37) had dangerman and captain, Rob Coombs stumped by Reg Dixon for 19, Bewdley’s target seemed a long way off. Tom Marsh picked up two wickets as Bewdley stumbled to 121 all out.

Pershore landed a narrow three-run victory with two balls remaining at Pedmore thanks to skipper Ciaran Sanders’s 80 runs and four wickets.

In Division Two, the biggest change round came at Colwall where Monmouth put their previous two weeks’ of disappointment behind them to trounce the previous leaders by eight wickets and lift themselves right back into the hunt for a Division One berth.

Meanwhile, Rushwick extended their lead to 49 points at the top of Division Three, with an emphatic victory against Cookley.

A devastating opening bowling spell by Steve May put paid to Cookley’s chances of a win, earning him match-winning, personal best figures of 7-33, including a hat-trick, as the stunned visitors were bowled out for just 56 in 28 overs.

Tom Bryant (30no) and Mark Groves (18no) soon knocked off the small target.

Enville beat Himbleton to jump to third place ahead of Stourport, who could not finish the job against Chaddesley.

Harvington have now won three from the last four and are 17 points behind second place. They owed victory to all-rounder Nathan Gage’s 141 and four wickets and to 17-year-old Jaimen Rudd who made 102.

In Division Four, Tenbury only managed a losing draw at Alveley.

The Division Five action saw Birmingham League outfits Bromsgrove and Old Hill open up a healthy lead over third-placed Halesowen by recording wins over Ross-on-Wye and Claverley respectively.