KIDDERMINSTER clinched a commanding nine wicket win over Shropshire side Shifnal to boost their Birmingham League Premier One prospects.

Strike bowler Chris Steele soon set about the Shifnal  batting  by instigating an early collapse after the Shropshire hosts had been inserted first on a wicket  offering assistance to  the attack.

At one stage Shifnal had slumped to 42 for six before Shaun Lorimer steadied the innings with a patient 41 off 81 balls.

But a final total of 116 all out after 46 overs was never going to be enough runs on the board.

The dangerous Steele caused most damage with the ball by taking four for 38 off 16 accurate overs and was well backed up by Josh Tidmarsh who claimed three for 32 off 12 overs.

Further wickets fell to Lee Ashton who finished with two for 29 while Lewis Stainforth's miserly one for eight off seven overs accounted for the remaining wicket to fall.

It wasn't completely plain sailing for Kidderminster when they replied as they lost Sinel Gunarathne for just one run.

That only resulted with skipper Neil Pinner joining Andy Kimberlin at the crease and from that point, Kidderminster never looked back.

Kimberlin carried his bat to reach 46 not out off 84 balls while former Leicestershire and Worcester player Pinner smacked a much more rapid  66 not out off 58 balls,  his innings including seven fours and two sixes.

The pair made light of their target as Kidderminster coasted to 117 for one in the 25th over to seal a one-sided win.

The match also provided wicketkeeper Tom Sherriff with a personal highlight as he claimed no less than six victims behind the stumps.

 Second placed Barnt Green were left hanging onto the wrong end of a drawn contest with Halesowen.

Invited to chase a Halesowen total of 217 all out, the Green were staring defeat in the face but managed to salvage a draw  when closing on 135 for nine.

Skipper Alexei Kervezee led from the front  by firing 82 before James Rudge helped reinforce the total with a quickfire 33 which included four sixes.

Once again, the Green strike bowler Andy Sutton was amongst the wickets when taking three for 34 after Rheedyi Amin ripped out the middle order when claiming four for 47.

An interruption for rain meant the Green were given 37 overs back in reply to reach their target.

The Green were going well at one stage reaching 73 for three thanks to contributions from Ben Chapman-Lilley and Worcestershire's Jacques Banton who both bagged 31 runs while Dan Meredith made a further 21.

Eddie Rhodes then ruined any possibility of a Green success by snapping up four for 25 off 11 excellent overs and was well supported by the all-round talents of Rudge who took three for 33 from 12 overs.

Himley had to settle for the wrong end of a draw against high flying Harborne in Premier Two.

Tejas Wagle walloped 122 off 128 balls to help Harborne amass a huge total of 272 for seven from a full 55 overs.

Swapnil Gugale with 55 and Tom Arnold on 44 provided Wagle with plenty of support despite the efforts of Northamptonshire's Graeme White, who fresh from his exploits for the Steelbacks in the Vitality Blast took four for 66 off 17.

Himley were always in with a chance when they replied while Ollie Walker with 65 and Jeevan Klair on 49 remained at the wicket.

They provided a fourth wicket stand of 118, but their departure saw the Stourbridge Road side fall short on 209 for eight after Mike Bevan and Gugale had both grabbed three wickets.

Bromsgrove were blitzed by table toppers Wolverhampton who romped to a nine wicket win at Danescourt.

Following an early collapse, Ash Newfield with 39 and Lewis Cordes who added 34 took Bromsgrove's total from 26 for three to 90 for four.

Bromsgrove then succumbed to the combined spin attack of Warwick Fynn and Joe Stanley as they lost their last seven wickets for just 45 runs.

Fynn finished with figures of four for 13 while Stanley snapped up  three for 33 as Bromsgrove were bundled out for 135 in the 53rd over.

Wolves made light work of their target in reply by reaching 137 for one inside 25 overs.

Fynn completed a fabulous display by making 55 not out while Worcestershire's Tom Fell fired 74 not out off 67 balls which included seven fours and two sixes.

Bromsgrove bid to bounce right back this Saturday when they entertain bottom side Worfield at St Godwalds Park while Himley travel to Wem.

Kidderminster attempt to continue  their cracking form  with a trip to strugglers Shrewsbury while Barnt Green visit Kenilworth Wardens.

Halesowen will be hoping for a bumper crowd at Seth Somers Park when they play hosts to reigning champions Berkswell.