THE Worcestershire Cricket League Second XI Division Two title belongs to Droitwich after they held their nerve in the crunch clash with Cookley.

Cookley took the winning draw but could not overhaul Spa who went into the fixture with a 19-point lead.

After being put into bat the hosts went on the offensive as they sought to set a big score, declare and receive extra overs to try to bowl their rivals out.

But the plans were scuppered when Carl Thomson removed the dangerous Ben Quinlan (43) and fellow opener Dan Southam in the same over.

Jonathan Stanaway made 80 but Spa’s bowlers wrestled back control as Cookley could only post 205-8 and were crucially forced to bat out all but one ball of their innings.

Thomson returned 3-44 and Martin Woodward claimed two wickets from his 17-over spell while Ollie Sankey picked up 2-39.

On a docile track openers James King and Martin Keen were rarely troubled.

Their solid start was built on by a defiant third-wicket stand between Paul Bryan and Ash Walton who saw off Cookley’s eight bowlers to edge their side closer to the title.

There were minor jitters when both fell in successive balls for 46 and 36 respectively before Thomson and Adam Keen comfortably saw out the remaining overs as Droitwich closed on 144-4 to be crowned champions.

The relegated first XI ended a disappointing summer on a high with a four-wicket win over Cookley to deprive them of second place in the Division One table.

Cookley were shot out for 132 as Phil Thomas ran through their top order with 5-34 in 17 overs.

Martyn Davies claimed 3-36 and there was another wicket for Matt Gurr in his second outing with the senior side.

Spa replied positively after losing Davies early with Ash Fearnall and Max Young (51) scoring quickly.

With just 14 runs needed the rain intervened.

When the umpires gave the go-ahead for a final three overs the hosts took 11 balls to reach their target and finish with four wins in six games, providing optimism for an immediate top-flight return.