Division One

Knowle & Dorridge went to the top of the table for the first time this season on the back of a Henry Brookes-inspired three-wicket win at Halesowen.

The home side were all out for 249 in the final over following a batting masterclass from South African Raynard Van Tonder, who hit 131 off 115 balls against a visiting attack in which Warwickshire and Middlesex paceman Brookes claimed 5-55.

In reply, the runs were spread around - Leicestershire’s George Maddy led the way 74 before his younger brother Isaac (37no) saw Ollie Currill’s team over the line.

To reach the summit K&D had help from an unlikely source – neighbours and rivals Dorridge - who turned in their best performance of the season to date when registering a comprehensive 85-run home win over previous leaders Smethwick.

The two-time champions, who had also suffered a surprise exit from the Graham Williamson T20 Challenge Cup the previous evening against Shrewsbury, were bowled out for 157 by Adnaan Riaz (3-14) and county pro Sam Wood (3-54).

A number of home batsmen earlier chipped in to their 242 but it was Aussie import Nivethan Radhakrishnan who topped the charts with 55 while Smethwick star Deepak Khatri took 5-71.

Himley also leap-frog Smethwick and move into second place after they were steered to a dramatic three-wicket victory over basement side Moseley by a superb unbeaten hundred from Ollie Westbury.

The visitors made 269/7 with opener Ramanjot Jaswal’s 114 not out the mainstay of the innings. There was also a handy 50 from Shayaan Abid. A fluent 170-run partnership between Westbury (104no) and James Clark (100 from 80 balls) looked to be guiding the hosts to victory but three quick wickets left nine required from the final over before skipper Westbury wrapped things up.

Barnt Green are also in the title mix after hauled themselves level with Smethwick at the top of the table through an unexpectedly tense 179-run win at Kenilworth Wardens.

The Worcestershire side declared in the 53rd over having reached 285/8. Jacques Banton led the way with 107 and there was a run-a-ball 46 from former Wardens opener Henry Cullen while Amun Bal was the pick of the bowlers with 3-41.

When Roshan Venkataraman and Indian spinner Harpreet Singh Brar shared eight wickets to leave the hosts reeling at 85/9 in the 40^th over an emphatic win seemed likely. However last pair Bal and Alex Wilkinson then survived for 16 overs leaving visiting skipper Romi Brar as the hero of the hour after victory was eventually clinched in the second additional over generated by his declaration.

Shrewsbury beat Harborne by 70 runs after half-centuries from opener George Hargrave (82) (pictured) and Llyr Thomas (77) allowed the London Road hosts to post 256/8. Sam Whitney then took 4-39 as Harborne were dismissed for 186 of which Eddie Miller top-scored with 68 and former Pear Alex Kervezee was unbeaten on 56.

The Worcestershire derby between Barnards Green and Ombersley finished with the former taking the spoils courtesy of a 53-run win. Opener Joseph Harrison top scored for the Malvern-based hosts with 98 while Ritchie Harley bagged 4-29.

Set a target of 190 to win, Ombersley found Pakistani international spinner Usama Mir (4-39) a handful and were eventually bowled out for 136 . Toby Cox top scored with 42.

Division Two

An excellent all-round display from Warwickshire’s Vansh Jani steered table-topping Berkswell to a 91-run win at Leamington.

The opener hit 50 off 36 balls to help his side to 253/8. There was also a half-century from George Baines (65) against a Spa attack in which Jason Jakeman took 3-47 and there were two wickets apiece for James Hawkins and Archie Walker.

With the exception of opener Harrison Smith (53), Leamington’s top order struggled for runs and they were soon in trouble at 55/5. Sam Sitch added 37 but the home side were dismissed for 162 with former Bear Ryan Sidebottom (3-32) the pick of the bowlers. Jani capped his fine afternoon with a brace and there were also two wickets for Derbyshire’s Amrit Basra.

Second-placed Tamworth proved too hot for visitors Stourbridge, romping to an emphatic 185-run victory. The writing was on the wall when they clocked up 323/5 on the back of half-centuries for Riley Ward (92), Callum Render (62) and Alec Price (60). The ever-consistent Ed Smith then took 3-41 before off-spinner Tom Smith finished things off by grabbing 2-9 from seven overs as Stourbridge slipped to 138 all out.

Third-placed Attock took the majority of the points at home to Shifnal having posted 297/5 on the back of an Omar Ali half-century and an excellent unbeaten 114 ball 118 from Ismail Mohammed. Former Wardens and Coventry spinner Gursimrat Singh then took 3-44 but Shifnal hung on for a draw at 204/6.

Kidderminster moved off the foot of the table by claiming 14 points from a winning draw at Wolverhampton. The Carpet Men posted 267/7 including 86 from opener Henry Sockett. In reply, an unbeaten 86 from Sri Lankan pro Rishin Upamal was the highlight of Wolves’ 219/8.

This means Worfield find themselves in the basement for the first time after their 66-run home defeat at the hands of South Staffs League champions Milford Hall who seem to be finding their feet in Premier League cricket.

Some impressive middle-order batting from keeper Niall McHale (66), Ibbadat Thaman (50) and Will Davis (40) saw the visitors to 241 against an attack in which Ravan Chahal, who finished with 6-77 from 17 overs, was the stand-out performer.

Fine bowling from former Derbyshire seamer Davis (5-29) and current Bears slow left-armer Theo Wylie (4-32) then had Worfield in difficulties. Although the in-form Rohel JP Peters (64) and Arthur Smallman (51) added 108 for the fifth wicket a late collapse saw them dismissed for 175.

Twentieth century Birmingham League giants West Bromwich Dartmouth and Old Hill are also both very much part of the relegation battle as the season approaches its midpoint.

And there was an early finish when the two met at Haden Hill after the hosts were skittled for 55 by Tim Maxfield (4-15) and former Warwickshire spinner Ateeq Javid (4-14). Dartmouth then reached their target for the loss of four wickets.