PERSHORE enjoyed a hugely profitable weekend in their Birmingham League Division Three promotion challenge as they defeated visitors Whitchurch by seven wickets on a Saturday which brought defeat for rivals Astwood Bank and Streetly.
Bank lost by four wickets in a low-scoring affair at Handsworth and Streetly went down by 61 runs at Newport, but there were no such problems for the Plums as they saw off their Shropshire opposition.
The visitors won the toss and chose to bat and were handily placed at 108-2 thanks to 45 from opener Ijaz Yousaf, but he became one of five wickets for Matthew Brace (5-52) and the innings gradually subsided.
Joe Taylor also impressed with 3-27 and despite 49 from Kristen Ali Whitchurch were dismissed for 176 in the last of their 55 overs.
Pershore were never in any bother in their reply as openers Taylor (82) and Chris Ayliffe (50) put on 91 and the Plums eased to 180-3 off 34 overs to collect 24 points.
Second placed Pershore remain 22 points behind leaders Fordhouses with six matches remaining and are now 41 and 43 points above Astwood Bank and Streetly respectively.
A home game against Worfield awaits Pershore on Saturday.