LIAM Ridings and Taylor Pugh inspired Pershore as they struck a major early blow in the Worcestershire Cricket League Division One title race.

The Bottoms outfit thrashed Droitwich by eight wickets in an early battle of two form sides.

Pugh took 4-25 as third-placed Droitwich were restricted to 197-8, before Ridings scored 92 in leaders Pershore’s successful reply of 198-2 with more than 15 overs remaining.

Pershore have a 12-point advantage over Worcester Nomads in second.

Bredon kept up their four-point lead of Division Two with a high-scoring four-wicket success at Lye after replying to the hosts’ 225-9 with 229-6 inside 46 overs, helped by Martyn Draper’s 68.

Evesham could not stop Stourport remaining in the chasing pack following a comprehensive eight-wicket home defeat.

Muhammad Saqib top scored with 46 in Evesham’s 200-7 but Stourport eased home on 202-2.

Struggling Harvington crashed to a 198-run thrashing at Five Ways Old Edwardians in Division Four after being skittled for 76.

Birlingham top Division Six with a 14-point cushion after an eight-wicket win at Ombersley thirds, who were dismissed for 94. Mike Sloan produced an all-round show with 54no and 4-21.

In Second XI Division One, Evesham stormed to a seven-wicket success at Stourport with opener Khurram Mumtaz hitting 83no.

Pershore triumphed by 41 runs in Division Two, with Owen Harrison taking 4-9 in 2.4 overs to mop Droitwich up for 139 after earlier top scoring with 48.

Meanwhile, Dumbleton slipped up in their West of England Premier League Gloucester Division title bid with a 49-run defeat at lowly Chipping Sodbury for their first loss of the season.

Promoted Bidford-on-Avon took over at the top of the Marston’s Pedigree Cotswold Hills League Premier Division with a six-wicket demolition of champions Shipston-on-Stour, who slumped to 74 all out.