COLWALL secured promotion to Worcestershire League Division One with an eight-wicket home win over Malvern.

The result, which saw spinner Mike King take 7-30, includng a hat-trick, also confirmed Malvern’s relegation from Division Two.

On a showery day, the visitors decided to bat first, with Antony Arnold (44) taking the game to the opening bowlers.

Helped by Richard Cullen (25), Arnold quickly put on 80 in the first 10 overs before the former fell to Damien Berry.

Joined by Rob Francis, Arnold continued to attack until he was undone by the off-spin of newly introduced King.

When Francis fell for 18, the Malvern innings collapsed under some intense pressure from the Colwall bowlers.

King took 7-30 and leg spinner Tom Coleman skittled out Jeremy Lee, the only other batsman to offer any resistance, for 20.

Malvern were finally out for 151 off 36 overs.

The visitors sensed success over their local rivals when Francis dismissed Coleman in the first over of their reply and then James Abel fell for one.

However, youngsters Ben Wheeler (67 not out) and Rory Jones (69no) completely destroyed the rest of the Malvern attack, hitting the winnings runs in only 17 overs.

Worcester Nomads visited Pedmore in Division One and shared the points in a match in which rain had the final say.

Nomads won the toss and elected to take first strike.

Captain Ben Schiffmann opened the batting with Jon Inglis and was quickly trapped lbw by Dave Skelding for four.

Inglis was joined by Tom Mills and they put on 74 before Richie Beaumont removed the former for 23 and then had Liam O’Driscoll caught for 0.

Mills was caught in the deep off James Burgoyne for an enterprising 69 and Beaumont bowled Dannie Rees for 24.

Beaumont brushed aside the middle order but Sam Roberts (45 not out), Tom Marsh (29) and Steve Bowman (17) added vital runs as Nomads made 218.

In their reply, Pedmore soon lost Danny McDonnell for one, while O’Driscoll trapped Jon Heardman lbw for 0 and Tom Baker bowled Paul Pickering (20).

Rain forced the players off on two occasions and the third shower brought the game to an end. Pedmore finished on 105-3.