REDDITCH Entaco defeated Pershore by four wickets to retain the Worcestershire Cricket Board Over 45s title.
Sunday’s final, played at Bromsgrove’s St Godwalds Park, was keenly contested and a credit to this flourishing competition, which was hosted by Worcestershire Cricket Board in conjunction with the Worcestershire Seniors Cricket Association.
Sponsored by Hobsons Brewery and Oldfields Orchard Cider, it had ten teams enter the fray this year compared to four in 2015.
Redditch won the toss and asked Pershore to make first use of the wicket.
The Plums made 128 all out in 34.1 overs as Phil Oxley top scored with 34.
Sujeyanthan Jayaratnasingam took 4-32 for the defending champions and there were several tidy bowling performances which included Rob Pegg (7-2-15-1) and Chris Reed (7-1-17-1).
Redditch were reduced to 97-6 in reply, but Geoff Eley made 40 not out off 51 balls including six fours to help them reach 132-6 in the 26th over after Nick Little had earlier contributed 22.
Andy Hawes took 5-21 off seven overs for Pershore but his efforts proved to be in vain.
On Saturday the first team travel to Herefordshire outfit Wormelow knowing they need seven points to be mathematically certain of being Worcestershire League Division Two champions and two points to secure promotion.
Saturday’s first and second team fixtures against Alvechurch & Hopwood and Worcester respectively were both abandoned without a ball being bowled.
The 2nds, who remain third in Division One 2nd XI, entertain relegation-threatened Pedmore at Bromsgrove Road on Saturday.
Sunday sees the final of the Canterbury Cup Plate competition in which Redditch Entaco face Feckenham at Kidderminster.
The match starts at 3pm and will be a T20 format. Both clubs are expected to field strong sides in what should be a close encounter.
