Shrewsbury’s recent form which has lifted them clear of the bottom two suggested that they would prove to be difficult opponents for a top of the table Smethwick side, still stinging from last week’s comprehensive defeat by Kidderminster in the last of the win/lose/draw red-ball matches, but, after winning the toss and choosing to bat first, the London Road outfit collapsed to 118 all out in 31.4 overs. Their total would have been much lower without Peter Clark’s defiant 43 after he came to the wicket at 55 for six. Shrewsbury lost their first four wickets for 13, two each for Yasir Ali and Manraj Johal, before spinners Gurinder Singh (3 for 33) and Tazeem Ali (2 for 13) finished them off. Despite the absence of Kadeer Ali, due to Worcestershire duties in the Royal London Cup, and the loss of their first two wickets for 20, a third wicket stand of 86 between Amritpal Singh (43) and Qamar Khan (42) eased the Premier Division One leaders to a comfortable six wicket victory in the 30th over. Shrewsbury remain 21 points clear of danger after the two bottom sides, Shifnal and Leamington slumped to defeat to Halesowen and Kenilworth Wardens, respectively, while Smethwick maintain their 22 point lead at the top. Halesowen won the toss and elected to bat first, against Shifnal, making it to 233 for eight from 50 overs, led by 57 from ‘keeper Wes Griffiths. Alex Renton was the most successful bowler for Shifnal with 3 for 42. In reply, the first four visiting batters were dismissed without scoring as they crashed to 1 for four, then 41 for seven. Matthew Lamb fought back with 29 before Shifnal were all out for 101 with three wickets apiece for Eddie Rhodes (3 for 9), James Rudge (3 for 23) and Edward Bragg (3 for 29). At Leamington, the home side chose to bat first against near neighbours Kenilworth Wardens and were soon made to rue that decision by Hugo Whitlock, who completed a fine opening spell, with 3 for 22, bowling unchanged from the start. West Indies star Shane Dowrich looked set for another major innings before picking out Whitlock on the deep square leg boundary, off a short ball from Alex Wyatt, for a classy 35. Reeve Evitts stepped up to take 3 for 12 as Leamington lost their last five wickets for 23. Their total of 104 all out never looked likely to stretch Wardens, who completed a double over their South Warwickshire rivals, as Jamie Harrison clubbed an unbeaten 75 from 48 balls to ease his side to an eight wicket success that leaves Leamington in deep trouble at the wrong end of the table after finishing runners-up last season. Harrison has, now, scored 666 runs, this season, and trails club colleague Harry Johnson by six runs in the race to finish as the leading run-scorer in the Division. Leamington’s Oliver Currill, who missed the game through injury, has 664 runs and Halesowen’s Alexei Kervezee stands on 644.

Barnt Green continue to chase Smethwick hard, but they were unable to put a dent into the Broomfield side’s lead, despite a 59 run win against Berkswell. Batting first, after winning the toss, Barnt Green reached 246 for eight in 50 overs with half centuries from Ben Chapman-Lilley (59) and Amrinder Brar (50). Ateeq Javid took 3 for 42 for Berkswell, who began their reply, poorly, sliding to 44 for five before a sixth wicket partnership of 113 between Nick James (84) and Tom Milnes (43) brought them back into the game. They were both out within 12 runs of each other as Berkswell faded to 187 all out in 43 overs. Jacques Banton took 3 for 31 and Robbie Shurmer took 3 for 33 as Barnt Green warmed up for tomorrow’s Area Finals of the Vitality ECB National Club T20 Competition at Smethwick, where they will play Longton in the Semi-Final at 10.00 a.m. The most overwhelming result of the day came at Knowle & Dorridge where the home side were crushed by Moseley by 160 runs. Centuries by Somerset’s Andrew Umeed (110) and Hampshire’s Keith Barker (108) boosted Moseley to a mammoth 375 for six from 50 overs, supported by 56 from Abraash Khan and 50 from Ali Awan. Barker, also, shone with the ball, taking 3 for 24 as K & D were dismissed for 215, despite 54 from James Middleton, 42 from Umar Shaikh and 40 from Jack Grundy. Moseley remain in third place in the table, 38 points behind leaders Smethwick and one point ahead of fourth in the table Kenilworth Wardens. Ombersley moved further away from the threat of relegation with a seven wicket win over Worcestershire club rivals Kidderminster at Chester Road. A win against Shrewsbury, next week, should make them completely safe after they won the toss and invited the home side to bat. Kidderminster made a good start, racing to 91 before they lost the wicket of Sinel Gunarathne for 39. Opening partner Andrew Kimberlin, then, fell at 103, for 53, but from that point onwards, Vikai Kelley (66) was the only batter to stay at the crease for any length of time as Matt Davis finished with the striking figures of 6 for 17 from 10 overs. Kidderminster’s total of 204 all out, in 49 overs, was chased down, for the loss of three wickets, in the 36th over, thanks to 105 from Josh Dell and an unbeaten 53 from Nick Hammond, who added 101 for the second wicket after an opening partnership of 98 between Dell and Declan Lines (27).