WORCESTER boosted their Worcestershire League Division One title hopes with a dramatic one-run win at Worcester Nomads whose poor run continued.

Bransford-based Nomads snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in an encounter which went right to the wire.

The hosts won the toss and inserted their opposition on a good pitch which was a little slow early on.

Early movement caused problems for the batsmen and Patrick O’Driscoll tempted Henry Lewis into edging a catch to wicketkeeper Ollie Ranscombe.

O’Driscoll and Harvey Groves maintained a tidy line and length in the first 15 overs.

But Muhammad Raja and Bryn Evans broke free of the shackles and increased the scoring rate.

However, Raja (45) succumbed to the first change when bowled by Tom Baker.

Steady but light drizzle was not enough to take the players from the field but it slowed the outfield dramatically with boundaries at a premium.

Evans and skipper Scott Shepherd added 20 more runs before spin was introduced at both ends.

Josh Hawes (3-44) was most effective and broke the third-wicket partnership when Evans (34) was bowled with the score on 98.

Faisal Khalid (10) started brightly but fell to a sharp caught and bowled by Cameron Blakey and Shepherd (20) was undone by Hawes with the score on 114.

Mohammad Adeel's run-a-ball 36 ended when he drilled to the safe hands of Blakey in the covers off Steve Emson.

Jabran Khalid (5) also fell to another sharp caught and bowled chance when Emson snared him.

Worcester scored 197 before Groves wrapped up the innings in the 46th over.

The sun came out so conditions were in favour of Nomads for their reply but they lost Groves lbw for a duck.

Nomads forged on with a partnership between Mark Groves and David White with the former taking control.

But with the score on 92 he was bowled for a well-constructed 51.

White anchored the innings as skipper Ranscombe (18) scored quickly only to offer a chance to Hassan Javed off Clark Knapton (2-42).

Guy Davies was trapped lbw first ball but with White still there Nomads looked to be in the better position at 154-4 with enough overs to bowl.

However, the visitors took pace off the ball and scoring became more difficult.

Emson scored 10 before being stumped and was followed by Joe Laugher lbw in the next over.

Worcester could sense victory and White was bowled by Shepherd (2-41) for 63 with the score on 162-7.

Three wickets had fallen for just eight runs at a crucial time in the reply.

A brave fightback by Hawes and Baker (12 not out) took the game into the final over.

In an attempt to score the two runs needed to tie from the final ball, Hawes (19) was run out and the loss deepened Nomads' woes near the foot of the table.