KIDDERMINSTER couldn't quite overcome a dogged Barnt Green side who dug in to claim a draw  following a low scoring Birmingham League Premier One contest at Cherry Hill.

Victory looked on the cards for Kiddy having reduced the Green to 87 for nine in their pursuit of a 138 target.

But last wicket pairing of Andy Sutton and Adam Hines wouldn't budge as they survived no less than 112 balls.

Former Worcestershire opening bat Matt Pardoe with 38 and  Sinel Gunarathne put on 51 for the opening partnership after Kidderminster took first strike.

Further contributions from Barney Morgan with 28 and Josh Tidmarsh on 17 saw Kiddy post a total of 137 all out  in the 53rd over.

The reliable Andy Sutton continued his rich vein of form with the ball by taking five for 33 off 14.3 overs and found himself well backed by Robbie Shurmer who took two for 21 while Hines claimed two for 29.

In reply, the Green had no answer to the opening onslaught of Kiddy strike bowlers Liam Weston and Chris Steele and soon found themselves struggling at 45 for six.

Weston ripped through the innings by taking six for 28 while Steele finished on two for 51.

At 87 for nine, it looked as though the Green had given up the ghost, but Sutton and Hines had different ideas.

Kiddy's bowlers couldn't prise the last pair out, Sutton staying undefeated on 13 not out while Hines finished on nine not out as the Green ground out a draw on 111 for nine at close.

Halesowen came within five runs of a shock victory over top of the table Smethwick.

That was after Halesowen had been given a revised target of 166 to chase down in the space of 31 overs.

Smethwick had earlier posted a total of 228 for five from a full  allotment of 55 overs before rain arrived, reducing Halesowen's reply.

Former county bat Kadeer Ali cracked 80 while skipper Rawait Khan added 75 not out, the pair putting on 119 for the third wicket.

Rajpal Beniwal then struck a rapid 42 not out to boost Smethwick's total having been reduced to 32 for three at one stage thanks to the bowling of Halesowen's James Rudge and Harry Kitchen who both captured a couple of wickets.

Halesowen took  up the chase when play resumed, Simon Gregory leading the charge with 37 but his side just fell short on 161 for  eight.

HIMLEY helped themselves to an easy six wicket win over Bridgnorth in Premier Two,

Excellent bowling by Himley  removed Bridgnorth for a well below par total of 133 in the 47th over.

Matt Jeavons made a real impression with the ball by taking five for 53 and was well backed up by James Lunn with three for 25 off 14 overs while Ben Robinson bagged two for 24.

Opening bat Callum Lea then clobbered a boundary laden 46 before skipper Ollie Westbury saw his side over the line on 135 for four when scoring a much more patient 28.

Bromsgrove remain right on the heels of league leaders Wolverhampton after emphatically overcoming Walsall by 64 runs.

Having lost their opening batsmen with just nine runs on the board, Bromsgrove recovered to reach 153 all out after just 41 overs.

Ash Newfield steadied the innings with 41 after Wahib Shahid with four for 32, Jordan Bulpitt three for 48 and Raven Chahal who took three for 40, caused the initial damage.

However, Walsall's fragile batting was quickly exposed in reply as they were reduced to 33 for six at one stage before finally succumbing to 89 all out.

Alex Wilkinson  was in superb form with the ball by taking four for 32 while Connor Smith claimed three for 25.

It meant Warwickshire's Liam Norwell had little chance to make much impact after picking up figures of two for five from 6.4 overs.

Bromsgrove  travel to Barnards Green this Saturday bidding to keep the pressure on Wolverhampton while Himley, who have moved up to fourth place play hosts to fifth in the table Dorridge.

In Premier One, Kidderminster take on the champions Berkswell at Chester Road while Halesowen have a home clash with bottom of the table Ombersley.

Second placed Barnt Green visit Shrewsbury.