Worcestershire County League: All the action from the top divisions

This win was enough to open up a thirty-nine point gap at the top as second placed Stourbridge 1st XI, for whom Maverick Perry (96*) top scored, were forced to settle for a winning draw as Pershore 1st XI parked the bus in the second innings at the War Memorial Ground after rain reduced their second innings which ended with the visitors finishing over one hundred runs short of the target, six wickets down.

Elsewhere, third placed Old Hill 1st XI kept their faint hopes of the title alive by beating Astwood Bank 1st XI by two wickets at Haden Hill thanks largely to Zahid Kafiat (82*) who saw them home with an impressive second innings contribution.

Whilst at the lower end of the table Mohammed Adeel Sajid (92) returned to form to help Redditch 1st XI post a first innings total that proved too many for Bromyard 1st XI to chase at Flagonners Green.

Old Elizabethans first XI gained a winning draw against Droitwich Spa 1st XI at St. Peter’s Field and Ombersley 2nd XI secured an important maximum points win against Colwall 1st XI which means the bottom four (Bromyard 1st XI, Old Elizabethans 1st XI, Ombersley 2nd XI and Colwall 1st XI) are now fifty points adrift of the rest with just thirty-one points separating all four which suggest it is likely to be two from the bottom four who make the drop with seven matches to go. 

In Division One Worcester Nomads 1st XI made the trip to Longmore to face leaders Chaddesley Corbett 1st XI and after a late scare when they lost three quick wickets at the end of their second innings, managed to cling on to seal a huge one wicket win which cuts the gap to the leaders to fourteen points and widened the gap to forty points to third placed Barnt Green 2nd XI who were forced to settle for a winning draw against Worcester 1st XI for whom Luke Deeprose (4-35 & 73*) produced a notable all-round performance.

Elsewhere in the division, fourth placed Coombs Wood 1st XI were also forced to settle for a winning draw as they failed to bowl out Kidderminster 2nd XI in the second innings who finished eight wickets down when time was called at Stewarts Road.

Halesowen's 2nd XI took full advantage of these results and drew themselves closer to the promotion chasing pack by picking up a four wicket win which saw them gain maximum points against Bewdley 1st XI at Seth Somers Park.

Whilst at the lower end of te table Pedmore 1st XI sealed a maximum points win against Hagley 1st XI and Oldswinford 1st XI beat Lye 1st XI who only have themselves to blame falling well out of the promotion race as they were once again bowled out with plenty of overs remaining, this time just fourteen runs short of a target which for the second week in a row looked very attainable with some responsible batting.

In Division Two, Bromsgrove 2nd XI continued to show the unpredictability of the division as they gained a maximum points winning draw against leaders Himley 2nd XI at St. Godwalds Park, a result that helped them narrow the gap at the top to just two points behind their opponents and also leap frog last weeks second placed team Burghill, Tillington & Weobley 1st XI who failed to take advantage of the leaders poor result as they were soundly beaten by Harborne 3rd XI after making the long trip to the Knotts Ground.

Elsewhere, Enville 1st XI beat Astwood Bank 2nd XI by two wickets at Sambourne Lane to move in to fourth position just twelve points off the promotion places. Alvechurch & Hopwood 1st XI are a further five points adrift in fifth after Ben Evans (6-32) helped them bowl Belbroughton 1st XI out in the second innings to seal a seventeen run win.  Whilst at the lower end of the table, Cookley 1st XI earned a winning draw in a rain reduced second innings against Bredon 1st XI and Bartestree & Lugwardine 1st XI beat basement side Himbleton 1st XI by a wide margin which means that they are now forty points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table and need to find form quickly if they are to avoid the drop.

Netherton's 1st XI made the long trip to the Parks to play Brockhampton 2nd XI and walked away with a fairly comfortable four wicket win which opened up what should be an unassailable seventy-one point lead at the top of the Division Three table as their closest rivals Barnards Green 2nd XI lost to Old Vigornians 1st XI for whom Steve Campbell Ferguson (139) compiled a match winning first innings century to outpoint Max Middlebrooke (108) who scored a second innings century for the home team in a high scoring match at North End Lane.

In other matches in the division, Avoncroft 1st XI took full advantage of Barnards Green 2nd XIs demise as Dan Elliott (88*) led his team to an eight wicket victory against Stourbridge 2nd XI, a result that lifted the East Worcestershire outfit in to second place, eight points clear of the Green.

Richard Gardiner (101) scored a second innings century for fourth placed Old Elizabethans 2nd XI at the Memorial Ground but it was only enough to earn his team a losing draw against visiting Feckenham 1st XI who had posted over three hundred in the first innings thanks largely to an excellent first innings century from Fraser Duggan (103).

Stourbridge 2nd XI are next in fifth followed by Redditch 2nd XI for whom Waqas Ali outshone Yasaar Altaf (127) who scored a first innings century for the home team at their Bromsgrove Road ground by taking (10-50 - including a hat-trick) in the second innings against Coombs Wood 2nd XI which is the first time in the club's one hundred and seventy four year history that an individual has taken all ten wickets in an innings, a superb performance and finally Alexander Basford (91) top scored for Martley 1st XI in an important maximum points win when his first innings contribution helped post a first innings total that proved too many for visiting Old Hill 2nd XI to chase at Jewry Field, a result that took them pout of the bottom two at the expense of Brockhampton 2nd XI.

After recording their tenth win of the season against Stourport-on-Severn 2nd XI at Highbridge Road, Netherton 2nd XI were able to extend their lead in Division Four to eighteen points over Claverley 1st XI who moved in to the second promotion position after enjoying a comfortable nine wicket victory against lowly Chaddesley Corbett 2nd XI (who failed to earn a point from the game) and then seeing that last week's second placed team West Malvern 1st XI had been beaten by nine wickets against Lye 2nd XI who are now in fourth position just four points adrift of third and sixteen pints of the promotion places.

In other matches in the division, Romsley & Hunnington 1st XI beat Five Ways Old Edwardians 1st XI by a wide margin at the Masshouse to move in to mid division above Rushwick 1st XI who could only gain a winning draw against basement side Eastnor 1st XI at Clenchers Mill Lane after Ben Febery (100) posted a first innings century for the home side and finally Paul Heywood (72) and Luke Roberts (68) posted first innings half centuries for Worcester 2nd XI to set up an important maximum points winning draw against Bromsgrove 3rd XI at the Hedges Ground which helped them keep their chances of survival well and truly alive.    

With seven more matches to be played, two Win/Lose/Draw and five Win/Lose their remains a lot be played for at both ends of the table in all divisions which bodes well for an enthralling end of season run in as every team will know that now is the most important time of the season to find their best form.