PERSHORE threw away the chance of closing in on the Worcestershire Cricket League Division One leaders when they failed to force a win at Bromyard.

In the only league match played on a wet Bank Holiday, Pershore skipper Ciaran Sanders won the toss.

The sides had ended Saturday’s games in the top four — Pershore had inflicted the first defeat on leaders Stourbridge — so both were keen to play.

Sanders asked Bromyard to bat first with the fixture reduced to 28 overs per side and play started at 4.30pm.

Fine bowling by Sanders (4-46) and Luke Dalley (3-46) restricted the hosts to 139-7 although six wides were contributed.

Only in-form ex-Sri Lankan international Dinusha Fernando with a run-a-ball knock of 62 and captain Edd Oliver (24 not out) came to terms with the conditions.

In reply, Liam Ridings and David White (30) laid the foundations with an opening stand of 60.

But, after White’s dismissal, Pershore’s middle order imploded and lost eight wickets for 51 runs.

Despite the collapse, Ridings held firm with 56no but was unable to obtain enough of the strike as the light got worse. The ask of 12 runs from the final over proved too much and Pershore fell just three short of victory on 137-8 for a losing draw.

They collected six points in comparision to second-placed Bromyard’s 12.

The rain ravaged the rest of the county league programme as 35 out of 36 matches were abandoned without a ball being bowled.