WORCESTER maintained their grip on the Worcestershire Cricket League Division One title race with an emphatic seven wickets win over Pedmore.

The victory came thanks to 104 from overseas player Russell Pitchers.

Pershore stay in second place following a comfortable 24 points win at home to Redditch. They also had their overseas player, Ullrich Boshoff, to thank for his second and highest century in the league for the season.

Worcester Nomads stay third behind Pershore as they beat Droitwich by 97 runs with a debut century from David White.

After Pedmore’s defeat, Colwall have regained fourth spot by beating Evesham but they are 18 points adrift of Nomads, themselves 17 behind Pershore.

Hagley are in fifth after an exciting winning draw at Bromyard where the home side finished three short with two wickets left at the end of the 100th over.

Pedmore are now sixth and Belbroughton’s win over Harvington, which included 8-15 from Jamie Woodhouse, cements their seventh place 37 points ahead of the bottom five.

Indeed, Bromyard’s nine points closed the gap at the bottom and they are now locked with their fellow strugglers, Droitwich, Redditch, Harvington and Evesham who are all in peril as they fight to survive.

Next weekend is surely the cruncher as Pershore first receive Nomads and then on Bank Holiday Monday travel to Worcester.

However, after Saturday the bottom of the table could become a bit clearer as Redditch play host to Worcester, who could go the entire year without a draw.

Droitwich go to Evesham, while Bromyard must make the long trip to Harvington. Only 27 points cover these five sides with five games left.

In Division Two, Burghill became the first league team to reach 300 points with a win at home to Cookley.

They are 47 points in front of Bewdley who beat Lye who themselves are 32 in front of Oldswinford.

Rushwick remain bottom despite Malvern being bundled out for 44 at Wormelow.

Worcester Dominies stay just three points behind Oldswinford by beating Enville thanks to 95 from Jon Hancock.

Coombs Wood beat Feckenham with 80 not out and 4-39 by Carl Whyte.

Division Three leaders Harborne won at Alvechurch and second-placed Bredon could only draw at Tenbury which means they trail the Birmingham outfit by 24 points.

The two clubs meet in two weeks’ time.

Stourport stay third with another century for Spencer Colley and six wickets for Lee Waldron following their home game with fourth-placed Netherton who now stand 31 points back from Stourport.

Cleobury Mortimer beat Avoncroft, Ross had a winning draw at Old Vigornians and Chaddesley leap-frogged Alveley to escape the bottom two positions.

Bartestree and Lugwardine lost at third-placed Claverley in Division Four thanks to Asif Iqbal’s 102 for the home side and despite Matt Ashcroft’s heroic 7-63 for the visitors.

The Herefordshire club still lead the table by 37 points from Himbleton who beat Oldswinford, Jon Critchlow took 6-22 for the villagers.

Kidderminster are just four points behind Claverley and 10 behind Himbleton after a win at Romsley and play at Himbleton in two weeks’ time.

Bromsgrove had a winning draw at home to Halesowen and Martley beat Himley with 6-16 from Pete Gardiner.

Five Ways OEs are in sixth place after beating Old Hill thanks to 110 from James Hamilton.

Division Five sees Barnards Green beat Kempsey to close the gap to three points at the top with three games left.

It was business as usual for leaders Kempsey who thrashed eighth-placed Barnt Green and for Barnards Green who won at Old Elizabethans.

Hanley Castle are a staggering 65 points behind in third place despite a win over Hallow and remain the only serious obstacle to Kempsey who they play on Saturday, August 30.

In the weekend’s other games, Astwood Bank beat Stourbridge and Stourport were too good for West Malvern to go fourth and fifth with a 40 points gap to Stourbridge in sixth place.