COLWALL missed the chance to finish in Worcestershire League Division One’s top six as they ended the season with a 73-run defeat at Worcester.

A victory would have seen Colwall overtake Hagley and Worcester in the table but they had to settle for eighth place after a batting collapse.

The depleted Colwall side slumped from 95-3 to 127 all out chasing a below par Worcester total of 200 all out.

Captain Ben Cooke had no hesitation in inserting the hosts, but the decision failed to pay off initially as Muhammad Raja (49) and Henry Lewis (35) encountered few problems.

The duo shared a century stand before Lewis was run out by Idris Mohammed’s accurate throw in the 24th over.

The introduction of spin brought Colwall back into the game and once James Wagstaffe had Raja stumped by stand-in keeper Joe Blight, the visitors fought their way back as only Bryn Evans (35) stayed put for long.

Wagstaffe sent down 16 overs to finish with 5-69 while Ben Febery (3-51) offered sound support and Mike Gooch returned to take the other Worcester wicket.

Mohammed gave Colwall a flying start in reply smashing two sixes and three fours in his 27 and putting on 55 in eight overs with Blight (17).

But he was bowled and that soon became 63-3 as Blight and Will Bishop followed in quick succession.

Fergus Cameron (15) and Febery took the total to 95 in the 22nd over before the former was run out. The pace of Raheel Lone (4-22) and spin of Jabran Khalid (4-25) quickly proved too much for the Colwall lower order as they crashed to defeat.

At Stowe Lane a Colwall second string comprising of third and fourth team stalwarts lost by seven wickets to Worcester in Division Two Second XI.

Ewan Buttle finished unbeaten on 29 but Colwall slipped to 94 all out before Worcester clinched victory in the 20th over as wickets from Olivia Baker-Law, Chris Horne and Dick Tugwell ensured a single bowling point for the hosts.