DROITWICH thrashed Avoncroft with five overs left in Worcestershire Cricket Board Indoor League Worcester Division One.

The weather claimed the game between top-of-the-table Barnards Green A and Worcester Nomads A so the points were shared.

Avoncroft were bowled out for 74 all out and Droitwich responded strongly with 75-0.

The villagers' batting again collapsed due to a mixture of poor calling and shots.

Adam Rodway (37) alone provided resistance but got skipper Paul Athey run out.

Matt Gurr benefited from batsmen’s assistance to record 4-16 in 2.2 overs.

Droitwich passed the target unscathed with Max Young (26 not out) and Jez Hanson (28no) making the task look easy before retiring.

In Division Two, Martley (167-5) beat Malvern B (115-5) by 52 runs.

Malvern ‘B’ were on 46-5 after seven overs but Tom Sears (40no) refused to sell his wicket cheaply compared with the rest of the order who managed 17 in total as James Ganderton took 3-14.

Forty-six wides were contributed by wayward bowling.

The Martley innings, in which Ian Flower (43) and Pat Bibby (59no) set about the Malvern bowling in contrasting styles, had put the game beyond Malvern’s reach. 

Rushwick (91-5) lost to Malvern A (92-3) with two balls remaining.

The villagers might have ended their run of defeats but again failed to get the innings moving until the later overs.

At halfway they were 38-2 following two avoidable run-outs and Richard Bull (25no) was again left to pick up the pieces.

Chris Davies (14) provided support alongside another bonanza of wides (33) presented by the Malvern bowling.

Malvern replied with an immediate run-out of their captain without facing and scored less than Rushwick after six overs for the loss of three wickets.

Rob Francis (27no), having not played indoors in many a year, eventually found some touch.

On his retirement, Anthony Arnold (19no) and Simon Pearce (20no) added rhythm and energy, taking 15 from the penultimate over to win with a few balls to spare.