Division One

Halesowen kept their title hopes alive with a 97-run victory over fellow high-fliers Knowle & Dorridge at Seth Somers Park, a result built on a fine all-round display from Chris Whittock.

Put into bat, Halesowen made 285/7 with Whittock leading the way with 93 helped by Alex Kervesee’s useful 44. Ollie Currill was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3-53 from his ten overs.

In reply, opener Jamie Harrison went for a duck but K&D rallied with George Maddy (41) and Neil Pinner (47) putting on 76 for the next wicket. But thereafter the visitors found runs hard to come by with Eddie Rhodes (3-23) and Ed Bragg (2-24) particularly impressive as the visitors were dismissed for 188 in the 41st over.

Smethwick's title defence continues at a pace after they stormed to a 167-run win at relegation-threatened Wolverhampton. The league’s front-runners reached 251/9 through half-centuries from Gurbaj Singh (90) and Bilal Shafayat (55). There were three wickets apiece for Sam Ellis and Charles Jackson while wicket-keeper Will Nield took six catches. But that total proved well out of reach for the hosts who slumped to 84 all out with Deepak Khatri finishing with 5-38 and Yasir Ali taking 3-20.

Shrewsbury stay in second after claiming a high-scoring home win against Moseley by five wickets. Abdullah Awan top scored for the visitors with 132 off 128 balls while Rhodri Evans took 5-45. Moseley’s 308/7 looked a decent target but the Shropshire side reached it with plenty of overs to spare thanks to an unbeaten 131 off 117 deliveries from George Hargrave which steered his side to 309/5. Llyr Thomas scored 55 and Matt Swift was unbeaten on 73 at the close.

The closest contest of the day was at Barnards Green who lost a mid-table battle by just three runs against Harborne with the game going to the final over. Half-centuries from Tom Arnold (52) and Arjun Singh Nahal (58) helped the visitors to 253/8 - a target that looked achievable when opener Rehaan Edavalath scored 113 for the Worcestershire hosts. Ryan Tongue added 47 but others struggled against the bowling of Andy Sutton (3-49) and George Land (3-44) and Barnards Green were dismissed for 250 with four balls to go.

Ombersley won by three wickets at relegation-threatened Berkswell helped by a four-wicket haul for Ishaan Arora (4-24). Skipper Nick Hammond also played his part with 75 to help his side to 187/7 in response to their opponents’ 186 all out.

A rapid 132 off 118 balls from skipper Romi Brar helped Barnt Green to 312 at struggling Himley for whom Connor Smith claimed 5-46. That was too many for the hosts who were 250/9 at the close, Smith rounding off a fine all-round display with 41.

Division Two

It was business as usual at the top of the table with leading pair Kenilworth Wardens and Dorridge both picking up wins while at the other end, Handsworth beat Stourbridge to climb off the bottom of the pile.

Wardens romped to a 190-run victory over Coventry & North Warwickshire who as a result slumped to the foot of the table. Opener Ali Zaryab was the home side’s star turn, hitting 152 off 129 balls with Levi Gekis chipping in with 79 as they posted 389/8. Tommy Rex (3-46) and Alex Wilkinson (3-31) soon then had their local rivals in trouble before they were eventually dismissed for 199, Arun Singh Kalsi (46) top scoring.

Dorridge beat Tamworth by 118 runs to keep the pressure on the leaders. Luke Horgan top scored for the promotion hopefuls with 60 but with Jacob Flower taking 4-53, they had to settle for 267. That proved more than enough though as their opponents were skittled out for 149 courtesy of Imaad Mahmood’s 4-32 and Nabeel Mahmood’s 3-37. Jason Jakeman top scored with 49.

At the foot of the table, some fine bowling from Zakariah Abbas (4-39) and Dwayne Crossgill (3-21) ensured Stourbridge were all out for 173 in answer to Handsworth’s 192. An eye-catching century from Jujhar Johal (105) proved in vain for the Black Country side.

Half-centuries from Jack Home (76) (pictured) and Ben Lees (69no) helped Shifnal see off Shropshire rivals Worfield by four wickets. The latter reached 205/9 before Shifnal cruised to 208/6 in the 45th over.

A fifth-wicket partnership of 124 between skipper Jon Wigley (68) and Nathan Hooker (89) helped Leamington reach 330/9 in their clash with visitors Old Hill. Chris Calcott also contributed 70 from just 53 balls while Bilal Hassan took 4-52. The reply started well enough but Old Hill wickets soon began to fall and they were eventually dismissed for 184, Shailan Srikanthan taking 3-27 and Tom Randle 3-55.

Ben Gibbon scored an unbeaten 85 for Kidderminster at home to West Bromwich Dartmouth but it was not enough to stave off a six-wicket defeat. The hosts posted 251/6 and their opponents lost just four wickets chasing it down, a century partnership from Billy-Jo Cox (55no) and Ateeq Javid (79no) seeing them over the line in the 47th over. Skipper Dannyjo Cox had earlier set the foundations with a stoical 51.