OLD Vigornians’ Crusader Worcestershire League Division Four South promotion hopes were in tatters after losing to Burghill and Tillington.

The day started promisingly for the Worcester side who bowled extremely well in the best batting conditions.

The dangerous Alex Hedges hit four boundaries as the Hereford team reached 22-0 off the first seven overs.

But Will Smith and Charlie Daniell only conceded one run in the next four overs before Smith bowled Hedges with a yorker for 20.

Tom Weston brought on veteran seamer Phil Mackie and left-arm spinner Rowan Davison to tighten the noose.

Mackie had Kingsland Morris lbw for five and conceded only 11 runs in eight overs.

Davison picked up the wickets of Oliver and Walsh. The pair bowled 16 overs in just 45 minutes and Burghill had stuttered to 50-4 from 30 overs when the crucial moment came. Steve Protherough spilled a difficult chance from Mark Preece off Mackie.

Preece made the most of his life and went on to post the highest score of the day, an invaluable 41.

Burghill totalled 132-8 in their 50 overs before a short rain shower reduced the OVs’ innings to 45 overs.

Hedges proved how dangerous he is with ball as well as bat, tearing through the OV top order. Smith went for a duck and Steve Poole for four.

Knowing they had to complete the match with a win to stay top, OVs decided to carry on playing despite the increasingly heavy rain.

Burghill took advantage of the difficult conditions, but Weston and Duncan Hughes took OVs to 60-4. However, Burghill played with terrific spirit and utterly dominated the OV tail as the home side lost their final six wickets for 16 runs. Burghill moved into the play-off position and OVs now need to score two maximum-point wins and for results to go their way to get back into the promition spots.

Dave Mendham top-scored with 57 as the OV Seconds also lost to Burghill.

The Worcester side were dismissed for just 145 and Burghill passed their total for the loss of seven wickets.