DROITWICH suffered a disappointing double defeat at the hands of Pershore last Saturday, with both Firsts and Seconds losing their matches.
The Firsts lost by eight wickets in their top-of-the-table Division One clash in the Worcestershire League with the hosts cruising past their victory target of 197 with 15 overs to spare.
After winning the toss, Spa had made a solid start with openers Martyn Davies (23) and Jake Young (33) putting on 52 for the first wicket before their departures in quick succession sparked a mini-collapse.
Like the previous week, Paul Bryan (55 not out) and Gary Cartwright set about repairing the situation before the latter holed out in the deep for 22 just as he looked set for a big score.
Teenager Ash Fearnall blasted a belligerent 27 to boost the Droitwich total of 197-8 but, along with Bryan’s unbeaten half-century, it was to prove all in vain.
Pershore opener Liam Riddings’ 92 off 88 balls led them home after he and Adam Wiffen (37) put on 132 for the first wicket.
Droitwich, now third and 21 points behind Pershore, will look to bounce back tomorrow (Saturday) when they face second-placed Worcester Nomads at St Peter’s Field.
The Seconds succumbed by 41 runs to visitors Pershore Seconds and only have themselves to blame for failing miserably in their run chase.
After teenager Pete Lancashire had bowled with great hostility to claim four wickets and restrict league leaders Pershore to an extremely gettable 180-8, Spa slipped to 4-2.
After the fourth-wicket partnership of Martin Keen (67) and Carl Thomson (30) had painstakingly rebuilt the reply, their dismissals sparked an alarming slump as six wickets fell for just 17 runs.
Craig Hunt starred with both bat and ball as Droitwich Thirds defeated Five Ways Old Edwardians by 45 runs. Along with Alex Kolb and George Taylor, Hunt notched a 40-plus score as Spa totalled 212-9 and he then grabbed 4-25 to help his side to victory.
The Fourths lost by 32 runs at Bromyard.
