WORCESTER Nomads kept up their improved form with a 100-run win at Worcestershire Cricket League Division One basement boys Cookley after a fine display.

Skipper Ollie Ranscombe led the way with 99 as the Bransford side continued to chase a top-five place after amassing 279-9.

Having chosen to bat first, Nomads opener Harvey Groves (4) and David White (5) departed quickly to make it 12-2.

Joe Laugher and Ranscombe put on a valuable 73 for the third wicket before the former was bowled for a patient 26.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Ranscombe and Jamie Oliver (22) took the score to 122 and the former continued to score boundaries from bad balls almost at will.

However, Nomads' frail middle order showed again as Ben Beazley, Steve Emson and Tom Baker all capitulated to Adam Nicholls (4-72).

The score drifted to 152-7 when Mark Groves put much-needed impetus back in the innings, adding 41 for the eight wicket with his skipper.

Ranscombe was caught out for an agonising 99 after 17 boundaries in his 95-ball innings.

Mark Groves (73 not out) farmed the strike in an 83-run ninth-wicket partnership with Patrick O’Driscoll (6) before the innings closed on 279-9.

Cookley added 44 for the first wicket with Jamie Brighton (49) the main aggressor.

O’Driscoll claimed two wickets including Brighton and then spinner Cameron Blakey bowled Jat Dhadwal (24).

Nicholls did his best to hold the innings together but Emson (4-41) produced a devastating spell of swing bowling to rattle through the middle order as the hosts crumbled to 150-7.

Harvey Groves removed Nicholls for a patient 37 and claimed another wicket before Baker took just three balls to complete a fine victory and bowl Cookley out for 179.

Nomads seconds beat visitors Cookley by seven wickets in Division One on a good surface.

Cookley put on 94 for the first wicket after choosing to bat first with Phil Dixon scoring 36 and Alex Roden 62.

John Martin added 36 as did Ashley Rhodes in the visitors' 230-6.

But veteran off-spinner Anton Madzarevic (4-60) proved too much for the middle order. 

Nomads' Roger Dixon smashed three early boundaries in reply but fell for 13.

Derek Austin (102no) produced a mix of patience and brutality in stands of 57 with Malcolm Jones (15) and an unbeaten 157 with Jack Elston (75no) in Nomads' 231-3 to win with 13 overs to spare.