PERSHORE kept up their promotion challenge in Birmingham & District League Division Three despite 6-45 from Newport’s Indian Premier League star Rajat Bhatia.

Matt Brace (82), Chris Ridings (52) and Neil Hembrow (4-3) shone for third-placed Pershore in an 80-run win.

Astwood Bank are second after a six-wicket win at Worfield, who were 140 all out with Michael Desmond taking 4-14.

An unbeaten 50 from Sam Thomas and 31 from Tom Underhill steered Bank to a comfortable victory.

Table-topping Fordhouses secured 13-run win at Eastnor, who were dismissed for 138 with 50 from Atiq ur-Rehman..

Old Elizabethans are level with Halesowen in fourth place in Division Two after a rain-hit draw at Perdiswell.

Halesowen recovered from 107-5 to 269 all out, thanks to 93 from Jack Myers and 77 from Will Barrett.

However, 81 from Pakistani international opener Nasir Jamshed threatened to overhaul Halesowen’s total.

Elliott Hennessy, who took 3-19, hit 50 in 43 balls to keep the Worcester club within reach of a winning draw.

However, Eddie Rhodes stepped up to take 4-63 as the OEs innings faded away to 230-8.