THE first wet weekend for almost two months heralded the start of the new cricket season.

Clubs in the Crusader Worcestershire County League were the first to get to grips with competitive action but it proved a futile exercise for first division clubs Evesham and Pershore.

The latter's home clash with Pedmore never saw a ball bowled, while the club's second string received 24 points when Pedmore failed to raise a side.

Evesham seconds picked up five points after a washout at King-ton, but their senior counterparts landed four more after rain forced the match at Avon Street to be abandoned soon after tea.

Ian Stowe had earlier collected 6-87 as Kin-gton were restricted to 159-9 but the umpires were finally forced to call a halt with the home side 22-1 in reply after seven overs.

The hosts will have been disappointed not to have picked up more points as they had Kin-gton in deep trouble at 98-8 before stern resistance by the tail ended Evesham hopes of wrapping up victory before the rain arrived.

Evesham visit Droit-wich Spa on Saturday when the hosts will be hoping to rattle up an early season double after last weekend's seven-wicket and 20-point success at Ombersley.

Exhall and Wixford's Matt Gwynn started the new campaign by again hitting a century against Badsey.

Gwynn shared an opening stand of 118 with Leon Gates (49) and the pair laid the foundations for a formidable total of 245-6. Scott Carm-ichael added a half-century.

After the loss of two early wickets, Simon Price (60no) and Dave Powell led a spirited reply that was curtailed by heavy ran after 21 overs with the chasers having reached 98-2.

Badsey managed to complete a friendly the next day but lost out by 92 runs to visitors Amblecote and Woolaston.

Broadway opener Nigel Evans was another centurion as the Cotswold Hills League Premier Division side successfully chased 234 for victory at Dumbleton.

Victory arrived off the penultimate ball and will leave the newly promoted winners in good heart ahead of Saturday's top flight return.

Other results: Ashton 184-6, Pebble Mill 127-9; Fossils 132-7 (M Banks 2-20, D Whitehouse 2-32), Ashton 136-1 (D Rose 77no, D Miller 34no).

Selections for Saturday

Evesham v Droitwich away. J Gregory, M Granacki, G Lewis, I Stowe, N Collins, S Berry, P Armstrong, S Cadwallader, S Charlton, Q Jones.

Sunday

Evesham v Banbury away. J Gregory, B Clements, N Radford, L Radford, P Mann, D Horn, W Bailey, S Cadwallader, J Cawson, S Howard, Q Jones.

Evesham v Kington

Kington

E Symonds c Cadwallader b Stowe 1

W Morgan c Granacki b Stowe 20

S Williams b Stowe 24

D Exall lbw Gregory 1

R Symonds c Charlton b Gregory 0

B Price c Berry b Stowe 9

S Johnston lbw Stowe 35

O Price c Stowe b Gregory 36

R Price b Stowe 0

A Herbert not out 18

K Gwynne not out 7

Extras 8

Total (for 9) 158

Bowling: I Stowe 6-87, J Gregory 3-41.

Evesham

S Berry not out 9

I Stowe b Johnston 8

N Collins not out 4

Extras 1

Total (for 1) 22

Match abandoned