Division One

Smethwick made it back-to-back Division One titles despite losing their penultimate game at nearest rivals Halesowen - their eight-point haul enough to secure the silverware.

At the other end of the title, Berkswell romped to victory over fellow strugglers Wolverhampton but it was not enough to save them from the drop. They will be joined by either Wolves or Himley.

Batting first, Smethwick were in all sorts of trouble early on, being reduced to 21/3 but Viken Kedariya hit 52 off 38 balls and Gurbaj Singh 56. The ever reliable Deepak Khatri top scored though with 101 from 74 deliveries to take the total to 275 all out. Eddie Rhodes was the pick of the bowlers with his 4-38 and there were two wickets apiece for Ed Bragg and James Rudge.

Halesowen opener Matt Pardoe led the charge with his 83 and there was a useful 61 from Alexei Kervezee but it was all-rounder Rudge who steered the hosts to victory, his unbeaten 48 off 30 balls helping them to 277/9.

Shrewsbury’s hopes of taking the title ended with a surprise seven-wicket defeat at lowly Himley for whom skipper Ben Robinson starred with the ball, taking five wickets.The title hopefuls were put into bat and failed to get to grips with their hosts’ bowling with Robinson taking 5-25, Jamie Turner 2-33 and Ollie Walker 2-15. The pick of the batsmen was Dan Humes who made 39 before becoming one of Robinson’s victims.

Shrewsbury were eventually dismissed for 153 and their opponents reached 156 for the loss of just three wickets helped by the partnership of Spencer Grove (37no) and Navindu Vithanage (49no) which took them over the line. Walker capped a fine afternoon by scoring a useful 44.

Knowle & Dorridge could still snatch second spot on the final day after they beat Barnt Green by five wickets. Quickie Tom Davis dazzled with the ball, taking 6-42 as the visitors were dismissed for 194, Barnt Green skipper Amrinder Brar top scoring with 76. The home side reached 198/5 in the 33rd over, George Maddy top scoring with an unbeaten 54no.

Amrit Basra and Theo Wylie took four wickets apiece as Berkswell put Wolverhampton to the sword, dismissing the visitors for just 76 after posting 244 earlier in the afternoon.Wylie also performed with the bat, leading the way for the basement club with 56 although they were also helped by the 44 extras. His 4-22 together with Basra’s 4-31 then wrapped up the win.

Moseley were convincing six-wicket winners at Harborne who batted first and were all out for 226, Matthew James (61) and Ben Shepperson (51) being the mainstays of their innings. Hishaam Khan took 4-30.The visitors took a while to get into their stride but were guided to victory by a marvellous 108 not out off just 78 balls from skipper Andrew Umeed, Khan doing his bit with the bat by chipping in with 41.

The other match in the top division saw Barnards Green edge a two-wicket win at Ombersley. The hosts were skittled out for 165 with Toby Cox (51) the only one to make inroads into the bowling which was led by George Rhodes (3-23) and Chris Steele (3-40). Rhodes then hit 46 not out as the visitors reached 168/8 with two overs in hand.

Division Two

Kenilworth Wardens and Dorridge will be playing Division One cricket next season after wins on the penultimate weekend guaranteed their promotion. But there was disappointment at the other end of the table for Handsworth and Coventry & North Warwickshire who were relegated.

Wardens eased to a 153-run victory at home to Stourbridge thanks in main to an excellent batting display from the top order and some tight bowling. Batting first, the Glasshouse Lane side reached 298/7 with Harry Butler (45) and Nick Seagar (84) putting on 98 for the opening wicket and Seagar and Keith Bell (57) then adding 100 for the next. Ben Blakemore also had a say in proceedings with a rapid 43 not out off 20 balls. Stourbridge struggled from the off and were dismissed for 145 in the 28th over with Amun Bal taking 3-31.

Dorridge won at West Bromwich Dartmouth by six wickets helped by Ed Thompson’s 5-56 as the Sandwell Park side were dismissed for 224. More than half the runs came from the bat of Ateeq Javid who made 118 before falling to Thompson. A second-wicket partnership of 112 between Nabeel Mahmood (80no) and Daniyal Khan (62) was pivotal for the visitors who reached 226 for the loss of just four wickets.

It was a close run thing at Davenport Park where hosts Worfield lost to Leamington by just eight runs. The Warwickshire side batted first and made 180 with Oscar Briggs (65) leading the way while Hishaam Khan took 3-26. Impressive bowling from Rashawn Worrell (2-22) and Jonathan Wigley (2-14) then had Worfield in all sorts of trouble and although Arthur Smallman’s 52 kept them in touch, they fell short, losing their final wicket in the penultimate over with 172 on the board.

Relegated Coventry & North Warwickshire produced an impressive display to see off visitors Shifnal, a half-century from opener Okera Bascome (57) helping them to a 40-run victory. Will Iles added a steady 35 with the hosts posting 193 and that proved enough as their Shropshire visitors were dismissed for 153 in the 42nd over, Arun Singh Kalsi doing the damage with his 5-38.

Kidderminster beat Handsworth by ten runs, the Chester Road side’s 266/5 proving just enough. Nathan Jukes top scored with 71 while Yousuf Akbar (62) lead the reply as the Birmingham side reached 256/9.

There was another close finish at Tamworth where Old Hill claimed a 14-run win. A 129-run second wicket partnership between Waqas Ahmed (75) and Bilal Hassan (49) proved crucial for the visitors who chalked up 260, Ed Smith and Liam Brazier each bagging three wickets. An unbeaten 95 from opener George Baker and half-centuries from Scott Daly (53) and Jason Jakeman (59no) were not quite enough for Tamworth though who were left stranded on 246/2 at the end of their overs.