COLWALL improved their position in the chasing pack in the Crusader Worcestershire County League Division 3 when their weekend fixtures brought them a win and a winning draw.

On Saturday, Colwall were invited to bat first by visiting Harborne and made the most of the opportunity as Dave Powell (40) and Nick Panniers posted a century opening stand.

Skipper Peter Butler added a rapid 27 but a mid-innings flurry of wickets pegged the home side back for a while before Charlie Griffiths (37), Damien Cooke (22) and debutant Rhys Davey (28 not out) took the total to an impressive 270-8.

Harborne's reply was based on survival rather than a run chase but they were unable to overcome some fine swing bowling by Damien Berry.

Berry, who finished with 6-43, received solid support from spinners James Wagstaff (3-40) and Griffiths (1-16) as Harborne were shot out for 119.

In a weather-affected match on Monday, Colwall's patience paid off after a three-hour break for rain and mopping up at Kidderminster Victoria.

With the match reduced to 51 overs, the villagers made the most of their allotted 26 with Tom Wolfendale (58), Dave Powell (20) and Luke Ledbury (15) accounting for the bulk of their 151-7.

Kidderminster scored just 11 from their first five overs to make the subsidiary target of 114 to obtain a winning draw a more viable option.

But good bowling by Berry, whose 4-35 completed 10 wickets for the weekend, continued to restrict the home side and they closed on 105-6.

Rushwick were more successful in their run-chase against Ross in Division 4, passing the target of 107 they needed to achieve a winning draw from 25 overs as they replied to Ross' 214.

Ross owed their total to good innings from youngsters Seb Warwick (64) and Ollie Stratford (50).