NOMADS 2nd XI found themselves disappointingly on the end of a defeat to Birlingham on Sunday.

WORCESTER NOMADS II v BIRLINGHAM

Two visiting batsmen were in very good touch, Downes, undefeated on 99 and Spares also undefeated on 51, and this in the end proved the difference, as Nomads were unable to break their winning partnership, of 130.

Nomads batted first, and found skipper Dave Pearson and debutant Clinton Elger in good form with the bat, sharing a stand of 89, before Elger fell for an excellent 46. Blake Raymond (27) and Pearson (70no) kept the runs flowing, before the home side declared on 188.

Birlingham in the end made light work of it, when Downes and Spares came together, following the fall of the third wicket.

Rarely in trouble against a weaker than normal bowling attack, they sped from 89-3 in the 21st over to a winning 192-3 in the 33rd, with seven overs to spare.