COLWALL could not stop the title charge of Pershore in Worcestershire League Division One with a 104-run defeat.

Despite dismissing their hosts for 277 to claim four bowling bonus points, fifth-placed Colwall could only reply with 173 all out.

The first wicket fell in the 13th over when Adam Wiffin (31) was run-out by a direct hit from Jonno Gooch.

Sam Cross and Chris Ayliffe frustrated the bowlers with a partnership of 84 runs before the latter fell for 45 to a Ben Wheeler catch off Backhouse.

Backhouse (2-42) also took the wicket of Sam Cross but not before he had scored 93 runs with seven fours and two sixes.

Gooch (2-40) collected two wickets, bowling Will Green (18) and having Chris Ridings (20) caught by Sam Taylor.

Michael Gooch (2-53) dismissed Taylor Pugh (36) and Lee Wilks (5) with catches from Dan Head and Wheeler respectively.

Colwall started on the wrong foot thanks to Luke Dalley as Ben Cooke went for a golden duck.

Head and Tom Coleman enjoyed a partnership of 72 when Matt Brace removed the latter for 41.

Head fell to Pugh for 30 as did Backhouse for 17.

Charlie Cross (4-16) took the wickets of Wheeler (31), Dan Newby (0), Jonno Gooch (14) and Taylor (10).

On Saturday, Colwall host Worcester Nomads (1pm), who remain 55 points behind leaders Pershore at second.

Nomads thrashed Hagley by 138 runs after skittling their visitors for 83 in reply to 221 all out.

The top four scored most of the runs with openers Josh Haynes (69) and Innocent Kaia (38) starring before Dave White (24) and Tom Mills (44) weighed in.

Nomads’ bowlers shared the wickets with Robbie Watts taking 3-21 and James Ridge 3-20.

Bromyard went down to a six-wicket defeat against Droitwich in a match disrupted by rain.

The Herefordshire side batted through their 50 overs but only reached 191-8.

Droitwich’s innings was reduced to 44 overs when the heavens opened but they still got to their target with more than three left.

The defeat saw Bromyard fall to within 12 points of Pedmore in the relegation zone.