KIDDERMINSTER clinched a commanding nine wicket win over reigning champions Berkswell following a fabulous display to boost their Birmingham League Premier One prospects.

Unsung strike bowlers Chris Steele and  Liam Weston caused all the early damage as they dismantled Berkswell's highly prized top order batsmen, from which the champions never really recovered.

Weston removed Warwickshire's Dan Mousley and Chris Whittock without a single run on the board.

Former Middlesex and Leicestershire star Neil Dexter soon followed as Berkswell slumped to 18 for four.

Skipper and former Glamorgan spinner Nick James finally stopped the rot, leading a lower order revival as Berkswell recovered to reach 182 all out in the 49th over.

James made a defiant 48 while wicketkeeper Tom Mousley and former Warwickshire prospects Grant Thornton with 27 and Tom Lewis 25,  helped salvage the situation.

But it was Kidderminster's bowlers who took the plaudits, Weston finishing with figures of four for 50 while Steele finished off his second spell to claim four for 39 from 14.3 overs.

Berkswell's total was nowhere near enough as Kidderminster made light of their reply, reaching a winning 183 for one in the 37th over.

Skipper Neil Pinner was the only Kidderminster player to lose his wicket when out for 53.

Fellow opener Andrew Kimberlin carried his bat for an unbeaten 57 not out while wicketkeeper Vikai Kelley made exactly the same score as Kidderminster cantered home.

Halesowen had the better of a drawn contest with bottom side Ombersley.

Billy-Jo Cox proved in cracking form with the bat by scoring 87.

But it was skipper Alexei Kervezee who continued to take the attack to Omberlsey by reaching a splendid 122 not out off 107 balls, the former Worcestershire and Netherlands star reeled off 14 fours and three sixes.

With Si Gregory supplying a breezy 34, Halesowen were able to post a huge total of 299 for five - a target which proved well beyond Ombersley in reply.

Nick Hammond held out by reaching exactly 100 before being run out.

But he made sure Ombersley were safe, responding on 186 for eight at close, Harry Kitchen claiming three for 59 with the ball while Ed Bragg bagged two for 32.

Barnt Green also finished up on the wrong side of a draw following a high scoring spree against Shrewsbury,

Rhodri Evans reached 125 while George Hargrave hammered a further 93 as Shrewsbury  produced an imposing score of 310 for six.

Skipper Dom Harding stepped up in reply by recording a rapid 101 off 70 balls as the Green took up the chase.

Prolific opening bat Ben Chapman-Lilley added a further 71, the pair putting on 131 runs for the fourth wicket.

But the Green fell short in reply by closing on 258 for eight.

The Green travel to Leamington this Saturday, Halesowen host third placed Moseley while Kidderminster entertain Knowle and Dorridge.

Bromsgrove suffered a 110 run beating by Barnards Green in Premier Two but still remain in second place despite this hefty reverse.

Leicestershire's George Rhodes led the charge with a 113 run spree and was well supported by Worcestershiore prospect Zain Ul Hassan  who supplied a further 91

Phil Harris thumped another 69 as Barnards Green built a huge total of 333 for seven.

It proved too much for Bromsgrove in reply despite a promising start as Connor Smith and Jayden Levitt combined to share an opening stand of 104 runs.

Smith struck 63 and Levitt lashed another 45.

Only Ashley Newfield with a further 46 could keep the momentum going as Bromsgrove finally fell short on 223 all out after Phil Harris had taken five for 52.

Himley held on for the draw against Dorridge in a game which went down to the final ball.

The scores finished dead level on 171 but Dorridge missed out by a single run as they required 172 for victory from a reduced 36 overs following an interruption for rain earlier in the proceedings.

Ollier Walker was the highest scorer for Himley with 31 as his side posted a total of 171 for nine in the face of some accurate bowling by Aussie allrounder David Ball who took five for 35 while Jack Mills captured figures of three for 31.

Dorridge skipper Joe Dodd took up the charge in reply, racing to a quickfire 80.

The game finally came down to Dorridge requiring two runs from the final ball but instead fell agonisingly short on 171 for five, Northamptonshire's left arm spinner Graeme White proving the pick of Himley's attack by taking two for 45.

Himley head for West Bromwich Dartmouth this Saturday while Bromsgrove do battle with Dorridge.