COLWALL beat Pencombe in the National Village Knockout Cup’s Herefordshire and Powys final after their Saturday sides suffered a league washout.

Ben Wheeler and opener Jonno Gooch enjoyed a third-wicket partnership of 143 in Colwall’s 272 all out before Pencombe fell 85 runs short on 187-6.

The visitors won the toss and decided to field with Colwall having a slow start.

Ben Butler was out for two and Ferguson Cameron for three before Wheeler came to the crease for the precious partnership.

Gooch was run-out by Dave Harris for 59, including seven fours and one six, and Steve Brotherwood finally ended the fine innings of Wheeler.

He scored 118 with 13 fours and four sixes, while Brotherwood took more wickets for figures of 4-65 from 8.2 overs.

Dan Newby (27) and Eddie Hill (18) added late runs.

Pencombe lost opener George Godsall for three to Newby but Owen Thomas hit 10 fours in his 52 and Alan Davies batted impressively.

However, Gooch (3-40) stopped him at 61 for nine fours and one six.

He also took the wickets of Tom Baylis (25) and Brotherwood (18).

Meanwhile, Barnards Green thirds lost by four runs in the Worcestershire League Midweek Knockout Cup semi-finals against higher-ranked opponents Avoncroft.

The Malvern side chose to field first and Avoncroft got off to a flier with Andy Nicol, in particular, punishing bad balls from Chris Smedley and Tim Williams.

Williams (3-41) broke the partnership when Sam Hughes (18) skied to Jez Clarke at mid-wicket before Nicol (51) fell the same way and David James (5) departed lbw.

Spencer Cox (27) hit three huge sixes but was bowled by Matt Brookes (3-17) and Lewis Hooper (3-35) removed Mark Whitehead (14).

Avoncroft went from 125-5 to 138 all out with two catches from Lewis Loader and a run-out from Brookes, who also claimed another wicket along with Hooper.

In reply, Green skipper Clarke (21) hit three boundaries but was caught before Loader and Williams also found fielders after scoring just one each.

Green particularly struggled against the bowling of James Bunn (1-22) and Mark Hooper (28) fell lbw to Nicol.

The run-rate rose and wickets fell with James Beswick (23) and Graham Baddeley (2) departing to leave Green on 96-5.

Despite boundaries from Lewis Hooper and Dan Metcalfe, they fell four runs short.

Lewis Hooper (28) was caught on the boundary by James going for the winning six, giving Nicol his third wicket.

Eastnor host Herefordshire when they play Shropshire in a three-day Unicorns Championship match from Sunday (11am).

Entry and parking is free.