Division One

Smethwick and Halesowen are level pegging at the top of the table after the former picked up a maximum points victory at home to Berkswell. And with Knowle & Dorridge also in good form at Ombersley, it means there are just seven points separating the leading trio.

Berkswell skipper Neil Dexter won the toss at Broomfield Road, elected to bat and watched as opener Amir Khan scored 85 including seven 4s and five 6s. Unfortunately only Dexter (33) and Grant Thornton (32no) added anything else of note as the visitors were dismissed for 227. Tazeem Chaudry Ali was the pick of the bowlers taking 4-47 and there were two wickets apiece for Gurbaj Singh and Kadeer Ali.

In reply, Smethwick struggled early doors and were reduced to 75/4 before Bilal Shafayat hit an unbeaten 103 including 16 4s to boost the tally. There was a useful 35 from Viken Kedariya and the hosts were able to chalk up 230/6 to claim the spoils and 24 points.

Halesowen had a 20-point win at Moseley helped in no small way by the bowling of former Worcestershire ace Matt Pardoe. He took 5-72 from his 16 overs as the home side were restricted to 220/9, Hishaam Khan top scoring with 93 before becoming one of Pardoe’s victims. Halesowen’s Chris Whittock and Luke Tulacz then steered their side to victory with a 116-run fifth wicket partnership. Whittock was bowled for 64 but Tulacz was still there at the close on 69 not out as the high-fliers reached 223/5. Worcestershire quickie Yadvinder Singh claimed 4-61.

Knowle & Dorridge beat Ombersley by four wickets to keep the pressure on the top two. Former Gloucestershire bowler Oliver Currill impressed with 4-34 from 17 overs to keep the home side in check at 208/9, Tom Hinley being the pick of the Ombersley batsmen with 65 off 73 balls. For K&D, Neil Pinner led the way with 90 runs off 84 deliveries as they reached 210/6 with plenty of overs in hand.

Harborne were the other winners in the top division, beating Barnt Green by three wickets at Cherry Hill Road. Andrew Sutton ripped through the home side’s top order on his way to 5-31 to have them in all sorts of trouble at 14/5. Robbie Shurmer’s late 34-run knock lifted the score to 115 all out before the visitors slumped to 22/5 in their reply as Harpreet Singh Brar took 5-40. A stoic unbeaten 40 off 105 balls from Arjun Singh Nahal steadied the ship with Ben Shepperson’s 37 also vital as Harborne reached a winning 116/7.

Barnards Green managed to hang on for a losing draw in their match with Shrewsbury who posted 261 including half-centuries for George Hargrave (71) and Will Parton (50). There were four wickets for Ben Clarke and three for Chris Steele. The home side never looked like challenging that total but saw out their overs to reach 136/9.

The other game saw Wolverhampton bag the bulk of the points in their draw with Himley. Hamza Zubayr (98) and captain Joe Stanley (68) impressed for Wolves and Reeve Evitts then took 3-34. Wolverhampton posted 289/7 and Himley 166/8.

Division Two

Kidderminster climbed out of the relegation places courtesy of an impressive 124-run victory at title hopefuls Stourbridge. Batting first, the visitors totalled 237/8 led by opener and Herefordshire batsman Harry Sockett who scored a steady 55.

Liam Weston then took out the Stourbridge top three on his way to 3-47 and with seamer Ben Clements taking 3-33, the home side struggled for runs and were all out for 113 insisde 28 overs.

Kidderminster’s place in the drop zone has been taken by Coventry & North Warwickshire who suffered an eight-wicket mauling at West Bromwich Dartmouth. Danyaal Malik’s 57 not out was the top score for the visitors who were all out for 196 with Aaron Patel and Davesh Singh taking three wickets apiece. Victory was never in doubt once Dannyjo Cox (57no) and Ismail Mohammed (84) had put on 124 for the second wicket and Dartmouth eased to 201/2, Tim Maxfield winning the match with a huge six.

At the top of the table, Kenilworth Wardens maintained their 15-point lead with a maximum points victory over Old Hill. Oliver Dandy starred with the bat for the league leaders, hitting 137 off 139 deliveries with Ben Rex (60) also among the runs to help his side to 294 all out. The hosts' reply began at an electrifying pace with opener Hasan Ahmed smashing 60 off just 31 runs. But others failed to follow his lead and Old Hill were dismissed for 196.

Dorridge pose the biggest threat to Wardens and they also picked up 24 points thanks to their 145-run defeat of visitors Leamington. Skipper Joe Dodd’s unbeaten 95 laid the foundations for victory but it was the bowling of Adnaan Riaz and Ed Thompson that secured the win. The former took 5-22 and Thompson bagged 4-27 as their Warwickshire visitors were skittled out for just 51.

Shifnal were also convincing winners as they beat Tamworth by 165 runs helped by excellent knocks from Sam Scrimgeour (99), Charlie Home (88no) and Oliver Parton (86). The Shropshire side posted 309/3 before their opponents were dismissed for 144 with Cameron Jones taking 5-56.

More than 500 runs were scored in the game between Handsworth and Worfield with the latter finally claiming a winning draw. Visitors Worfield batted first and produced the day’s highest score as Rishin Patabedige hit 185 off 152 balls, an innings that included 23 4s and five 6s. Arthur Smallman added 50 to help his side to 304/7. In response, Yousuf Akbar led the attack with his 91 but they were on 205/6 at the end of their overs with star man Patabedige (2-27) the pick of the bowlers.