TWO entertaining matches graced Evesham's Prince Henry's Cricket Centre in the Worcestershire Indoor League.

Champions Ashton-under-Hill found Dumbleton in competitive mode and had to settle for a tie, while the returning Alcester and Ragley looked likely winners against newcomers Pershore but lost off the penultimate ball.

Ashton-under-Hill (96-1) tied with Dumbleton (96-3) after finding batting more difficult than normal.

Craig Baldwin and James Russell bowled with pace and swing as Will Archer (26 not out) and Richard Cooper (14) struggled.

Ashton lost Cooper on 44 in the sixth over and Tom Archer (25no) had problems too but found Tom Clarkson easier to score off.

However, Tom Green conceded just seven runs from three overs, leaving Ashton short.

Dumbleton's reply followed a similar pattern as Matthew Nicholson (25no) and Phillip Patterson (15) got off to a steady start.

Patterson was run-out on 41 in the fifth over but Dumbleton got up with the rate despite five tight overs of swing from the Archer brothers.

Bowler Matt Wakefield suffered a pulled back muscle but Janitha deAlwis bowled three overs for 14 to restrict the scoring, which had progressed through wides.

Twenty-one runs were needed from the last two overs before Green (17no) and Russell (5no) were aided by luck to require three for a win from the final ball.

But only a frantic two runs were managed and a rare tie resulted.

Alcester and Ragley (122-3) lost to Pershore (124-4) after beginning circumspectly with openers Marc Wooley (27no) and Ben Lee (25no) facing good bowling from Leon Wiffen (0-16).

They managed 47 without loss in the first six overs before Adam Warbrick (22) and Richard Nichols (17) prospered.

Although wickets fell, Alcester posted a challenging total and Pershore stuttered in reply with Chris Ayliffe run-out.

Sam Cross and Adam Wiffen (10) were helped by 25 wides but the latter was run-out on 49 in the sixth over.

Charlie Cross (11) followed lbw in the ninth over with 32 still required and another run-out meant Sam Cross returned to the wicket.

He scored a crucial 49no, running everything with Leon Wiffen to leave 11 required from the final over.

With five leg byes from the final two balls, Pershore scraped home with a ball left.

On Tuesday next week, Ashton-under-Hill play Pershore and Dumbleton face Alcester and Ragley.