BREDON had to settle for a losing draw at home to Evesham in the Worcestershire Cricket League Division Two derby.

Despite starting the season in better form, the villagers had to cling on to avoid defeat, closing on 191-9 in reply to the visitors’ 206 all out.

Mid-table Evesham claimed most of the points as a result, with 15 compared to third-placed Bredon’s two.

Ali Shan scored 40 and Adnan Sagheer later added 38 in the first innings, with Dominic Fenney taking 3-72 and Richard Bruce 3-41 to ensure all 10 wickets fell in 49.2 overs.

Opener and wicketkeeper Martyn Draper (80) got Bredon off to a strong start in reply but only Martin Hill (26) and Clive Fenney (19) contributed otherwise.

Mohammed Fahim Maan (4-45) and Sajjad Khan (3-34) tore through the batting, yet there was no budging the final pair of Lee Diamond (7 not out) and Dominic Fenney (0 no).

Pershore moved to within three points of third-placed Worcester Nomads after holding their nerve to record a second successive Division One victory.

They recorded a thrilling two-wicket triumph over Colwall off the final delivery of the game.

The Vale side restricted their opponents to 205-9 and then posted 206-8 to secure 24 points.

Recent signing Taylor Pugh again shone with the ball, taking 4-66, with Luke Dalley bowling tightly for his 2-26 from 10 overs.

Matt Brace, who chipped in with 2-46, then let loose with the bat as his 68 runs proved crucial within a misfiring top order.

Skipper Chris Ridings (39), Simon Corbett (21), Pugh (23no) and Dalley (7no) provided vital runs further down the order to help Pershore edge home.

Nasir Mehmood (146no) and Eahsan Ullah Khan (4-73) inspired Evesham seconds to a high-scoring five-run home win over Colwall in Division One.

Pershore seconds thrashed Bredon by 173 runs in Division Two, with Sam Cross (68), Phil Oxley (62) and Charlie Cross (43) helping fire them to 280-8.

Leon Wiffen added 35 and then claimed 3-30 alongside Gio Capaldi’s 4-24 as Bredon were bowled out for 107.

Birlingham are second in Division Six after a seven-wicket win over Romsley and Hunnington, but Harvington lost by 35 runs to Old Hill thirds in Division Four.

Opener George Kirby blasted 160no in Evesham thirds’ five-wicket win at Droitwich fourths in Division Seven South.