Wormelow finally brought their losing streak to a close when they finished just six runs short of victory against Worcestershire County League Division Two high-fliers Burghill & Tillington.

While the result failed to move Wormelow from bottom spot, it could point to better things for the Kennel Field club who had lost six of their opening seven matches with the other washed out.

Burghill, who remain in third place in the table, just a point outside the promotion spots, won the toss and decided to bat first, a decision which surprised Wormelow skipper Tim Boulter.

“I would certainly have chosen to bowl first had I won the toss,” he said. “There was some dampness in the pitch and it was slow and not easy to get in on.”

Burghill made a steady start with openers Alex Hedges (27) and Jack Hale (35) seeing off the Wormelow opening attack of Lloyd Scott (1-40) and Lee Watkins (2-34).

But the introduction of left-arm spinner Aditya Saha brought about a regular fall of wickets.

Wormelow’s overseas player, who had been wicketless in his previous three matches for the club, finally saw his fortunes turn as he removed the top five visiting batsman at a personal cost of 34 runs from 17 overs.

“Aditya has had a bit of bad luck in previous games and chances have gone down off him in each of them,” said Boulter.

“But he bowled very well and turned it. The batsmen stuggled to get him away.”

Ed Oliver (39) and skipper Byron Newton (22) both accumulated runs while, lower down the order, Mark Preece (29) and John Terry (12) both contributed to take the Burghill score to 180 before they were all out with two balls of their innings remaining.

Wormelow’s top three were quickly swept aside when the home side replied but skipper Boulter and Tom Bevan, who had earlier claimed three catches and a stumping, began the recovery.

Bevan (32) was eventually caught and bowled by Terry (1-17) but Watkins came in to continue the good work in a stand of more than 50 with his captain.

The turning point came when Boulter (41) and Watkins (17) were dismissed in successive balls by Newton (3-64).

This brought two new batsman to the crease with just under 50 needed from 12 overs.

Shaun Waldron (24 not out) and Ed Coombes (15 no) kept the runs ticking up but the target proved beyond them and Wormelow were left six runs short of the win when their overs ran out.

“The big thing for us was to stop losing, even if it was a losing draw,” admitted Tim Boulter.

“Our next three games are all against teams in the bottom half of the table and now we have to start getting some wins.

“I am quite confident that we can do that; our availability is strong and our bowlers are bowling well.”