THIRD-placed Worcester Nomads knocked Bromyard down to fifth in Worcestershire League Division One after beating their rivals by eight wickets.

On a wet, cold day and after a three-hour delay, play was finally possible at Bransford between the two title-hopefuls in a match reduced to 30 overs-per-side.

Home captain Ben Schiffmann won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first.

His decision immediately brought reward in the second over as Chris Elsden removed captain Zahid Saeed with his first ball which brought overseas player Dinusha Fernando to the crease.

Fernando and opening batsmen Ashley Bullock (46) took Bromyard to 131 from 26 overs as a high score looked on the cards.

But the in-form Steve Bowman accounted for both batsmen with Fernando caught by JJ Dilley for 89 from only 74 balls. Bromyard scrambled a few late runs and ended on 164-3.

Nomads’ reply started disastrously when Angus Robson was well beaten by Fernando, being caught behind without scoring.

When opener Guy Davies quickly followed, Nomads were struggling on 8-2 and Bromyard had their tails up.

Liam O’Driscoll and Sam Roberts (67 not out) batted with confidence from the outset, though, and took the game away from Bromyard.

They were rough on the change bowlers and, when Fernando returned for his second spell, the game had swung Nomads’ way.

O’Driscoll looked in imperious form with 92 from 72 balls and together put on a match-winning partnership of 157 to take the game for Nomads in the 29th over.

􀁧 Nomads stormed to a 146-run victory at Alvechurch and Hopwood in Second XI Division One.

Alvechurch put the visitors into bat but Nomads responded with a formidable 318-4 from 50 overs.

Matt Humphries and Darren Lakin (41) defied the state of the pitch and put on 103 runs for the second wicket.

Young Nick Jones (32) and Humphries combined for 64 for the third wicket before Paddy Clear (50 not out) and Humphries scored 76 for the fourth.

Humphries was caught in the deep after a destructive 138 containing 13 fours and eight sixes.

Clear and big-hitting Ian Milton (43) then put on 65 for the unbroken fifth wicket.

In reply, Alvechurch were bowled out for 172 in 48.5 overs after Mandar Kashikar ended an 83-run opening stand with a direct-hit run-out.

Kashikar claimed another runout quickly before Nic Lloyd (5-34) finished off the hosts.