A SORRY Saturday show was followed by a Sunday semi-final sickener as Evesham tasted despair at the double.

Chasing 255 for victory at Bridgnorth, the Birmingham and District Premier League second division visitors crashed to 135 all out and it would have been even worse had the last two pairs not added 41 with Alex Harrison scoring 29.

That was the total amassed by four of the top five in the batting order with only Ian Suckling impressing with 34.

Makeshift opener Shahid Saeed only managed two runs, while Aussie Scott Marshall managed one fewer as Evesham's hopes of overhauling the Shropshire side's score receded early.

Saeed had earlier taken 3-50 from 15 overs but double figures scores from the home side's top quartet including 63 from opener Whitney gave Evesham a tough time in the field.

It got worse after they had hit back to reduce their opponents to 162-6 after 40 overs only for McPherson-Lees and De Silva to add more than 50 runs for the eighth wicket.

Gavin Spares matched the former Pakistan Test player's wicket haul and he also managed 13 with the bat in what was a disappointing reply by another weakened Avon Street outfit.

Both the Graham Williamson Plate semi-finalists were under strength with youngsters abounding in both camps.

And, it was experienced skipper Barry Clements who rescued the hosts who had slumped to 33-3 when he was joined at the crease by Spares.

The pair added 123 fabulous runs before Clements was out for 92 when top edging a pull.

Spares went on to reach exactly 50 before giving Eburah his third wicket but his efforts helped Evesham reach 210-8 off their 40 overs.

Premier Division side Coventry and North Warwickshire were always in control after tea when partnerships of 55 for the first wicket, 37 for the second and 46 for the third left them on 138-3 when Daniel Sproul took his second wicket.

Sproul and fellow spinner Spares were the pick of an Evesham attack that stuck to the task admirably although a couple of lapses in the field left them with too much to do in the closing stages.

Clements, though, pulled off a fine run-out and then took a wicket but excellent scoring down the order served the visitors well and they the winning runs were scored with ten balls and five wickets to spare.