COLWALL lost by 23 runs to high-fliers Evesham in Worcestershire League Division One.

Hosting at Ghost Meadow as Evesham's pitch was unfit, a below-strength side fell short on 226-9 in reply to 249-9.

Mike Gooch took 3-32 and Nick Brown 3-63 for the villagers before opener Joe Blight top scored with 51.

Gooch and Fergus Cameron reduced Evesham to 42-3 from 14 overs.

Leg-spinner James Wagstaffe bowled tightly but runs flowed at the other end for Ali Asghar (54) and Wajahat Chohan (42) with 105 for the third wicket.

Brown removed both and from 161-5 with 10 overs left Ali Shan (30) and Mohammed Fahim Maan (28) added 52 for the sixth wicket to motor Evesham on.

Cameron and Joe Blight put on 65 in 18 overs in reply but the run-rate slowed when they departed.

Brown (26) and Ben Febery (21) consolidated before Ben Cooke (19) and PJ Recorden (22 not out) took the score to 184 but Evesham took over and Colwall ran out of overs.

On the adjoining Stowe Lane pitch, Colwall seconds secured a 101-run victory over Droitwich to move into the top half of Division One.

The experienced Richard Howitt finished unbeaten on 107 in Colwall's 256-6 with Adam Greaves lending solid support.

Droitwich could only manage 155-9 in reply.

Ten-man Colwall thirds lost by 79 runs at Almeley in Marches League Division Two after being set a daunting 328-5 from 45 overs.

Chris Conlon took 2-48 and Steve Wright 2-60 but Liam Evans smashed 165no.

After losing three cheap wickets Wright carved 101 while Conlon hammered 50, Andy Heath 45no and Harry Evans 20 but the last wicket fell on 249 with two overs left.

Colwall fourths just failed to snatch victory in Division Four against Bartestree and Lugwardine fourths with the visitors edging home by one wicket with 11 balls left as their last pair added 47.

Simon Oliver (59), Ben Recorden (46) Phil Steers (29) and Cam Smith (18) helped Colwall to 220-9 off 40 overs before opener Andy Evans hit 102 in reply.

Simon Oliver took 4-8 in four overs to reduce them from 173-4 to 186-9 but Ian Strangwood’s 36no saw the visitors home on 223-9.