LIFE in the new surroundings of Birmingham League Division Three started enco-uragingly for Pershore last Saturday.

However, it was left to a trio of old hands to ensure last season's Worcestershire County League champions didn't start the summer on the wrong end of a defeat at Penkridge.

Martin Johnson was the pick of the bowling attack that restricted the Staffordshire hosts to 197-6 from their 55 overs.

The opening bowler's 25-over stint bringing the impressive figures of 4-55 and Per- shore's excellent work in the field was only undone late on when Gary Pope thrashed 31 from 17 balls.

That innings ultimately proved the difference between a draw and victory although Pershore will have just been happy to have returned home undefeated after they had slumped to 74-4.

Openers Steve Cooper and David White added a half-century stand after tea but a flurry of wickets left the home side in the ascendancy.

Phil Oxley's arrival at the wicket steadied a rocky ship and, with help from Liam Ridings, the score was taken to 138.

Oxley fell for 45 and any hope of victory disappeared and it was left to the experienced Trevor Ridings and Johnson to see out the final few overs as the chase finished on 169-7.

Penkridge

S Jones b Powles 29

B Holmes lbw Johnson 17

T Morrell b Johnson 49

I Brown c Powles b Johnson 35

C Clarke st Wickersham b Johnson 5

A Manning c L Ridings b Dalley 9

G Pope not out 31

A Ball not out 1

Extras 21

Total (for 6) 197

Bowling: L Dalley 1-53, M Johnson 4-55, T Bales 0-13, D Powles 1-65.

Pershore

S Cooper c Jenkinson b Brown 30

D White lbw Morrell 19

L Wilks lbw Morrell 16

D Powles c Jones b Brown 0

P Oxley b Pope 45

L Ridings lbw Pope 26

T Ridings not out 20

T Bales b Pope 2

M Johnson not out 1

Extras 10

Total (for 7) 169