After visitors Redditch 1st XI had won the toss and elected to bat, Pershore 1st XI all-rounder Stephen Miles (5-36 & 52*) played a starring role for the home team as his excellent contribution helped the table toppers to a tight one wicket win at the Bottoms. The win helped the South Worcestershire outfit to retain their unbeaten record in the Premier Division and remain thirteen points clear of second placed Stourport-on-Severn 1st XI who beat in-form Droitwich Spa 1st XI by five wickets at St. Peter’s Field.
Stourbridge 1st XI leap frogged Old Hill 1st XI back in to third place after captain Josh Banks (73*) led from the front to help the Glassboys post a first innings score that proved too many for Old Hill 1st XI to chase in the second innings as they were dismissed just under fifty runs short of the total with only Jahanzib Khan (81) showing real resistance against an attack well led by Dan Wale (4-63).
In other matches, Brockhampton 1st XI recorded and important four wicket victory against Astwood Bank 1st XI at the Parks. Former Worcestershire all-rounder Duncan Catterall (79) made a rare appearance for Ombersley 2nd XI and showed some of his old class in compiling a second innings half century that helped his team gain their second win of the season off the last ball of the match against visiting Bromyard 1st XI for whom George Godsall (84*) and John Parker (57*) played well in the first innings to lay down a stiff second innings challenge for the home team. Old Elizabethans 1st XI had to settle for a maximum point winning draw at Stowe Lane as the second innings closed with bottom of the table Colwall 1st XI nine wickets down, well short of the first innings target in which Tom Goodwin (70) fired an excellent first innings half century for the visitors.
In Division One Ikram Mussadaq (5-44) continued his excellent bowling form to help Chaddesley Corbett 1st XI dismiss Bewdley 1st XI cheaply in the second innings to earn a maximum points win that opens up a twenty three point lead over second placed Worcester Nomads 1st XI who took full advantage of the fact that Barnt Green 2nd XI had to settle for a winning draw against Kidderminster 2nd XI at Cherry Hill Road, when they beat Oldswinford 1st XI by eight wickets at Albemarle Road.
Another bowler in fine form in the division is Alex Chappell (6-43) who continued his rich streak of form to take his second six wicket haul in a row in the first innings against Pedmore CC 1st XI to help Coombs Wood 1st XI dismiss the home team for a score that the visitors had no trouble in passing at Pedmore Hall Lane. A result that helps them remain fourth place level on points with Lye 1st XI who lost by twenty two runs to Hagley 1st XI for whom Michael Stead (70*) top scored in the first innings at Hagley Park and finally Halesowen 2nd XI beat Worcester 2nd XI by four wickets in a high scoring match at Norton Barracks in which over six hundred runs were scored and five batsmen scoring half centuries.
In Division Two Luke Powell (83*) continued his excellent form to become the first batsman in all divisions to pass the seven hundred run mark for the season and Sam Williams (5-32) took five first innings wickets in Burghill, Tillington & Weobley 1st XIs win against Himbleton 1st XI at Brick House Farm. Bromsgrove 2nd XI moved in to second position just five points behind the leaders after gaining a maximum points win after bowling Enville 1st XI out in the second innings at St. Godwalds Park. Himley 2nd XI sit a further six points back in third place as they could only muster a losing draw against Bredon 1st XI at Hill Close. Harborne 3rd XI are fourth after they were soundly beaten by eight wickets by Belbroughton 1st XI who climbed out of the bottom two at the expense of Bartestree & Lugwardine 1st XI who lost by six wickets to Cookley 1st XI for whom captain Jamie Brighton (102) compiled a second innings century and Paul Thomas (60*) finished unbeaten to lead the side home and finally Tom Downing (85) helped Astwood Bank 2nd XI compile a first innings total that proved out of reach for Alvechurch & Hopwood 1st XI who settled for the losing draw when they finished eight wickets down, forty runs shy of the first innings total.
In Division Three Arbaaz Mahmmood (5-34) helped Netherton 1st XI extended their lead at the top of the table when his first innings haul helped restrict home team Martley 1st XI to a total that the visitors passed for the loss of six wickets in a low scoring match at Jewry Field.
The Black Country outfit now sit forty five points ahead of second placed Avoncroft 1st XI who in beating Brockhampton 2nd XI convincingly thanks to first innings contributions from Captain Josh Cound (141), Dan Elliott (124) and Duncan Roke (90*) seized the opportunity to leap frog in to second position on the back of poor results for both Stourbridge 2nd XI who were beaten by four wickets at the Memorial Ground against Old Elizabethans 2nd XI for whom Seb Wilkins (82) and Chris Pearman (71) posted second innings half centuries and Barnards Green 2nd XI who lost by six wickets against Redditch 2nd XI for whom Yassar Altaf (103) compiled an excellent second innings century at Bromsgrove Road.
Meanwhile in other matches in the division Old Hill 2nd XI moved in to fourth place by beating Old Vigornians 1st XI by four wickets at Haden Hill and Feckenham 1st XI remain in mid division after settling for a winning draw against bottom side Coombs Wood 2nd XI who showed battling qualities to stave off defeat at Stewarts Road.
In Division Four the top three teams found out that its not going to be an easy road to potential promotion this season as they came unstuck against lower placed opposition. Table toppers Netherton 2nd XI were humbled by lowly Rushwick 1st XI when the visitors strong batting line up knocked off their first innings total (241 ao) for the loss of just two wickets. West Malvern 1st XI failed to take the opportunity to move back to the top as they were forced to settle for a losing draw against Romsley & Hunnington 1st XI for whom Jack Harris (97) who fell three runs short of a deserved century and Charlie Tromans (68) helped compile a first innings total that proved far to many and a similar fate awaited third placed Stourport-on Severn 2nd XI who were also forced to play for the losing draw against fourth placed Claverley 1st XI who moved closer to the top three as a result.
Just fourteen points separate the top four who are just eight points clear of Lye 2nd XI who are in fifth position after beating basement side Worcester 2nd XI by seven wickets at their Stourbridge Road ground and in other matches Five Ways Old Edwardians 1st XI beat Eastnor 1st XI by two wickets in a rain reduced match at the Masshouse and Mark Bilbrough (90) and Harry Smith (5-21) were the main protagonists in Bromsgrove 3rd XIs win against Chaddesley Corbett 2nd XI at the Hedges Ground.
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