BOWLER Taylor Pugh snapped up four wickets for just nine runs to help Pershore chalk up a vital win at home to Penkridge in Birmingham League Division Two.
Pugh sparked a collapse in the visitors’ batting as they subsided from 84-3 to 119 all out.
Pershore stuttered in chasing down their target but a patient unbeaten half-century from opener Liam Ridings guided them home with three wickets in hand in the 40th over.
Penkridge won the toss and batted at The Bottoms but run-scoring was not easy as Darren Critcher snapped up both openers. Attiq Chishti top-scored with 31 before he was run out but only Nihal Shilar (19) stayed for any period at the crease in the lower order.
Pershore put on 35 for the first wicket but then slipped to 50-4. Ridings, who hit 51 not out off 107, and Stephen Miles (18) rallied before the latter departed but Pugh (11) and Charlie Cross (16no) stuck around with Ridings to get the hosts to their target.
Pershore lie third from bottom, but victory was crucial as the teams immediately above and below them – Fordhouses and Streetly respectively – both recorded wins.
On Saturday Pershore visit Sutton Coldfield before they entertain Streetly on Bank Holiday Monday.
Pershore seconds had to concede their match away to Penkridge, losing 20 points as a result, in 2nd XI Division One.
They meet West Bromwich Dartmouth on Saturday and then head to Shrewsbury on Monday.
Pershore thirds went down to a seven-wicket defeat at Harvington in Worcestershire League Division Five.
Having won the toss at Anchor Lane, Harvington put Pershore in and the visitors were dismissed for 143 in 44.1 overs. Christopher Holtom top-scored with 27 off 33 balls, with opener Jason Brown hitting 26, as Peter Taylor (4-26) and George Burford (3-58) did the damage.
Although Pershore struck quickly to dimiss Steve Coleman with the score on 26, Harvington opener Joseph Vose was in no mood to hang around as he smashed 83 off 88 balls, with 12 fours, in an 89-run partnership with Burford (24) and the hosts were celebrating victory in the 30th over.
Pershore, who lie bottom of the table, end the season at home to Barnt Green 3rds on Saturday.
Pershore women suffered a nine-wicket defeat at Walmley in Women’s Midlands League Premier West.
They were hustled out for 80, with skipper Nao Heywood top-scoring with 26, before Walmley raced to their target in 9.1 overs.
