COLWALL slipped to the foot of the Worcestershire League Division One table after another sorry setback as they went down by four wickets at Burghill, Tillington and Weobley.

A brittle batting display after being inserted on a less than pristine pitch saw Colwall crumble to 167 all out in the last of their 50 overs.

But then, having fought back to put the home side in deep trouble at 46-6, they failed to capture another wicket as Burghill heroes, Tim Walsh and Owen Morgan shared an unbroken stand of 125 to see the hosts home in the 37th over.

Colwall had begun their innings slowly with openers Nick Brown and Archie Sale adding 43 in 14 overs before the more aggressive Brown was caught and bowled by Aldridge for 32.

Last week’s century-maker Ben Cooke was next out, trapped leg-before for nine, and when the stubborn Sale was finally caught for 17 with the total on 74 in the 24th over the innings gradually began to unravel.

Skipper Ben Wheeler (27) tried to stem the tide but then James Abel was bowled, while Wheeler, Joe Blight and Matt Morgan were all caught as the rot set in at 138-7.

It quickly became even worse as without addition, Nick Panniers was caught for a useful 26 and Dan Newby was bowled without scoring, only a valiant last-wicket stand of 29 from the Gooch brothers, taking the total to a paltry 167.

The same pair then combined to put Burghill in worse trouble with the ball after tea, Johnno (3-58) and Mike (2-31) doing the main damage while Newby added the valuable wicket of Ben Parkinson and keeper Wheeler claimed four catches.

It looked odds-on a Colwall victory at 46-6 in the 17th over but Walsh and Owen Morgan soon had other ideas as a limited bowling attack suddenly became ragged.

Walsh hit four sixes and six fours in his aggressive unbeaten 63, while Morgan finished with 52 not out as the home side eventually coasted home without further loss in the 37th over.

In their other games Colwall fared rather better although the second XI could only manage a losing draw in a high-scoring home clash against Coombs Wood in Second XI Section Division One.

Put in to bat the visitors lost two early wickets but then made the most of a superb wicket as the experienced Mark Bateman ground out an excellent unbeaten 124 with support from Price (45) and Zahdin (36).

They amassed a daunting total of 298-7 from their 50 overs, only Nick Pearce with 4-64 showing much penetration with the ball for Colwall.

In reply, Fergus Cameron (26) and Barrett Price (21) gave the hosts a reasonable start and Simon Davies (36) kept up the momentum but with half the side out only just past the 100 mark Colwall looked set for a heavy defeat until PJ Recordon and Pearce came together. Recordon made a superb maiden century before falling for 103 in the final over while Pearce came off unbeaten on 55 as Colwall finished just 21 runs short on 277-8.

Ben Recordon played a match-winning role in a last-ball victory for the thirds at Presteigne in Marches League Division Two.

The fourths maintained their unbeaten start in Division Four with an 18-run win over Woolhope seconds.