AVONCROFT snatched an unlikely victory and Barnards Green made a winning start in Worcestershire Cricket Board Indoor League Worcester Division One. 

Worcester Nomads ‘B’ (101-4) lost to Avoncroft (102-4) with three balls left.

Derek Austin (25 not out) retired during the fifth over but otherwise Nomads looked below-par and failed to push on after reaching 49-0 at halfway.

Committed fielding ensured Joe Laugher (16), Ben Wittenbury (18) and Andy Leach (19no) struggled to find rhythm.

Nick Jones (13) missed a quick, straight one from Paul Athey.

Smart fielding reduced Avoncroft to 2-2 in reply and they fell to 30-3 after a run-out triple.

Dan Elliot (36no) and Adam Rodway (23) produced a slow recovery before Athey (19no) sped up their victory charge with 38 coming from Leach’s overs.

Droitwich Spa (88 all out) lost to Barnards Green (89-3) with three balls remaining.

Spa, without two regulars, staggered to double figures and were all out with more than two overs unused. 

Ashley Walton (27) and Paul Spregg (20) looked comfortable after Martyn Davies (14) and Jake Young (10) failed to take advantage of a promising start.

Green made a meal of the reply after the Tongue brothers departed within two overs.

Dannie Rees (28no) and John Dovey (26no) struggled too but Green did enough to win with Walton taking 1-4.

In Division Two, Martley (93-5) beat West Malvern (78 all out) by 15 runs.

Martley required Martin Sweet (25no) to revive the innings as Rowan Dakin (1-18) and Will Jones (1-15) impressed.

Pat Bibby and Simon van Tongeren both contributed 18 before being run out.

West slumped in reply despite the efforts of Dakin (24).

Old Vigornians (142-3) beat Rushwick (80-5) by 62 runs.

Oz Fiaz began quickly and retired in the fourth over, while Eliot Turner (17) was bowled by Richard Bull.

Chris Drew (28no) and James Bader (27no) also retired before Fiaz (34) returned briefly to be well caught by Chris Davies.

Rushwick lost three wickets in the first three overs as Ben Doyle claimed 2-13.

Matt Davies (21) settled only to miss a straight one, leaving Matt Champion (29) and Bull (20) unable to rescue the innings.