PERSHORE paid the price for a slow start with the bat in Saturday’s five-wicket defeat at home to title-chasing Walmley.

Captain Christopher Ridings (34) and Chris Miles (55) were provided with little support until Charlie Norton (36*) and Charlie Cross (18*) put on an unbeaten 50 en route to 189 for seven.

The response got off to a perfect start when Darren Critcher dismissed Sachin Dubb for 17 before Andrew Hendry was trapped leg before wicket for a second ball duck from a Stephen Miles delivery.

The match was open with Walmley on 32 for two but James Brocklebank (41) steadied the ship before Sarmad Bhatti got to work on an unbeaten 80 from 85 deliveries in which he cleared the boundary no fewer than 13 times.

Walmley won with a total of 192 for five with fourth-bottom Pershore heading to Attock in Birmingham & District League Division Two on Saturday (noon).

A CALAMITOUS batting collapse saw Bredon suffer a fourth straight Worcestershire County League Division Two defeat at Belbroughton on Saturday.

Chasing 267 for nine, the visitors got reduced to five for four at Hackman’s Gate with Cormach Papirnik’s 64 and 22 from skipper Kevin Wilkins proving scant consolation.

Ryan Price (20), Steve Thomas (30), Peter Hawk (40), Joe Hall (77) and Jon Hawk (58) had no such troubles in amassing a seemingly-unbeatable total for Belbroughton.

Wilkins (2-40) at least arrested the slide towards the end of the innings and while the fightback always seemed unlikely, the rate of loss would have been alarming for Bredon.

Tim Mcvicker’s single was followed by Charlie Mcvicker, Oliver Cox and Tim Fenney departing without score.

It was all over inside 24 overs as Bredon ended on 139 all out. They will attempt to hit back at home to fourth-placed Bromyard on Saturday (1pm).

Evesham’s Division One clash at home to Worcester was abandoned. They travel to Bewdley on Saturday (1pm).