COOKLEY made hay while the sun shone and climbed to third place in Worcester County League Division One with a commanding 17 run success at Worcester Nomads.

While the remainder of Division One was completely washed out, Cookley made the most of their chance and now move within 19 points of leaders Hagley.

Skipper Jat Dhadwal said: "There was a break in the clouds around 2pm, so we decided to chance it and play a 38 overs game."

Inserted to bat first, Cookley were removed for 149 all out off 33.5 overs and Dhadwal admitted: "I was a bit concerned that we didn't manage to bat out all our overs. We were going really well at one stage with the score at 93 for one but then we had a bit of a collapse.

"But I believe we've got one of the best bowling attacks in the entire league and I was always confident that we could bowl Nomads out."

Dhadwal's assumption proved well founded as Nomads fell short when dismissed for 132 with just one ball left of their innings.

Cookley had to thank opening bat Jamie Brighton for holding their innings together with a timely 59 while Jon Stanaway, batting at No.8, provided what proved a crucial 27 not out in the face of some accurate bowling by the Nomads pair of Guy Davies who took three for 22 while Steve Emson picked up three for 23.

Nomads opener David White responded with a half century but wickets fell around him.

Cookley's Aussie strike bowler Jack McVey bagged two for 21 while Adam Nicholls chipped in with two for 17.

Dhadwal, who claimed three victims behind the stumps, added: "It's my first season as captain of Cookley and my objective is to try and win promotion this season."