A first class bowling and fielding performance from Old Hill 1st XI led by opening bowlers Aamir Manzoor (5-12) and Sam Wright (4-27) who shared nine first innings wickets between them breathed new life in to the race for the Premier Division title as they dismissed table toppers Stourport-on-Severn 1st XI for a meagre forty runs on a good cricketing surface at Walshes Lane Meadows to win by a comfortable seven wicket margin. This result now means that the top three teams Stourport-on-Severn 1st XI, Old Hill 1st XI and Stourbridge 1st XI (who were forced to settle for a maximum point winning draw at Stowe Lane in a match they dominated against Colwall 1st XI after Juhjar Johal (017) posted a first innings century) are separated by just thirty three points with six matches remaining.
In other matches in the division, fourth placed Astwood Bank 1st XI beat Bromyard 1st XI by five wickets at Sambourne Lane but are still over fifty points off top spot and will need to win every match remaining and get help from other teams if they are to claim the title. Adam Hewlett (5-41) grabbed five first innings wickets to set up a comfortable five wicket victory for visiting Brockhampton 1st XI at the Bottoms against a Pershore 1st XI side that have fallen from grace rapidly. Overseas all-rounder Ben Tredget (122) and in form Mohammed Adeel Sajid (79) helped Redditch 1st XI compile a first innings total that proved too many for a gritty Droitwich Spa 1st XI to chase down who, in turn showed willingness to hang on to their Premier Division status by hanging on for the losing draw against an attack ked by Sahil Mahmood (5-52) and finally Amar Jawanda (4-19) and Elliot Bartlett (62) were the main protagonists for Old Elizabethans 1st XI who drew further away from trouble at the bottom when they beat lowly Ombersley 2nd XI by eight wickets at the Memorial Ground.
Still all to play for at the top and bottom of the table with some interesting and mouth-watering fixtures to be contested in the final six weeks before the final curtain is drawn.
In Division One Chaddesley Corbett 1st XI have picked the wrong time of the season to lose form as they were beaten for the second week in a row by third placed Barnt Green 2nd XI for whom Henry Marshall (4-54) and Captain Hayden Froggatt (60*) were the main performers in a seven wicket victory at Cherry Hill Road. This result helped Worcester Nomads 1st XI hit the summit for the first time in many weeks after David White (59*) helped them chase down the first innings total set by visiting Halesowen 2nd XI to win by a comfortable seven wicket margin at Whitegates Farm These results plus the result of Coombs Wood 1st XI who suffered an ill-timed defeat at Stewarts Road against Bewdley 1st XI for whom overseas opening bowler Chad Sammutt (6-51) did the damage in the first innings are now over fifty points adrift of the promotion places suggest its two from the top three for promotion with just six matches remaining.
Elsewhere in the division, Lye 1st XI will be kicking themselves again after their powerful batting line up fell short with the bat in the second innings again, this time in a fifty four run defeat against Pedmore 1st XI for whom Paul Taylor (6-78) helped dismiss the opposition in the nineteenth over of a second innings that gave the home team a total of sixty-one overs to chase down a gettable victory target. Opening batsman Owen Williams (147) stepped up to the plate for Oldswinford 1st XI as his immense first innings contribution helped the visitors gain a maximum points win against a Kidderminster 2nd XI who fought well with the bat in the second innings only to fall twenty-four runs short of the second innings target which means they now occupy bottom spot as Worcester 1st XI continued their good recent form by beating Hagley 1st XI by four wickets at Hagley Hall, a result that draws Hagley ever closer to the relegation zone and keeps it very interesting at the bottom end of the table where a total of six teams will not feel safe yet.
Same top four but four different positions as the fiercely contested Division Two again sowed its unpredictability as Alistair Hickman (175) crashed an excellent first innings century to help Bromsgrove 2nd XI set a victory target that proved well out of reach of Himbleton 1st XI who remain bottom after Ethan Dallaway (4-38) sealed the deal in the second innings to earn a maximum points win which in turn enabled the East Worcestershire outfit to move ten points ahead of last weeks leaders Himley 2nd XI who were forced to settle for a winning draw in a rain effected match against Cookley 1st XI at their Stourbridge Road ground, whilst last weeks fourth placed team Enville 1st XI moved in to third as they continued their good recent form to close within three points of the promotion places by gaining a maximum points over Belbroughton 1st XI thanks to excellent contributions from Matt Branch (77), Spencer Mann
(76*) in the first innings and Tom Davies (5-32) in the second, a win that allowed them to move one point ahead of last weeks third placed team Burghill, Tillington & Weobley 1st XI for whom Henry Sockett (106) scored a first innings century and Oscar Darke (5-50) took five second innings wickets which earned a winning draw against visiting Astwood Bank 2nd XI who were thirty three runs short of the first innings target, nine wickets down when time was called to end play.
In other matches, Alvechurch & Hopwood 1st XI made the long trip to play Bartestree & Lugwardine 1st XI worthwhile as Matt Hayward (69) helped them walk away with an eight wicket victory which keeps them in the promotion race just twelve points off second place and Matty Johnson (66) and James Pyatt (64) fired second innings half centuries for Bredon 1st XI in their seven wicket win against Harborne 3rd XI who have now fallen nearly forty points adrift of the promotion places in seventh.
Wajid Ali (81*), Troy Lee (65) and Sakandar Farooq (60) all fired first innings half centuries to help Netherton 1st XI maintain a healthy lead at the top of Division Three by securing a winning draw against Stourbridge 2nd XI at the War Memorial Ground. The Black Country side now enjoy what look like being an unassailable seventy five point lead over Old Elizabethans 2nd XI who moved in to second place thanks to the returning Jude Rees (65*) who helped steer his team home to a four wicket victory against Old Vigornians 1st XI at the Kings School which allowed them to move ahead of last weeks second placed team Avoncroft 1st XI who were well beaten by Old Hill 2nd XI for whom Dylan Keeling (115) and Sajid Aurangzeb (7-33) performed admirably at Haden Hill.
In other matches in the division Redditch 2nd XI for whom Haleem Basharatt (102) scored a first innings century to help gain a maximum points win against local rivals Feckenham 1st XI at Mill Lane took the opportunity to move ahead of Barnards Green 2nd XI who were beaten by three wickets at the Parks by Brockhampton 2nd XI, a result that means four teams are now within twenty points of second position and finally Luke Wallis (109) scored a first innings century in vain as David Soothill (136) returned in kind for Martley 1st XI who sealed an important win in their fight to avoid the drop.
In Division Four Tom Hill (165*) scored a fine second innings century to help Bromsgrove 3rd XI gain an important eight wicket win against former table toppers Netherton 2nd XI at Highbridge Road, a result that helped Claverley 1st XI who gained a maximum points win against Worcester 2nd XI thanks to half centuries from Aroon Iqbal (85) and Edward Lewis (76) to move two points ahead at the summit and third placed West Malvern 1st XI to close the gap to the promotion places to just ten points after they won a pulsating game by one wicket off the last ball of a game against Five Ways Old Edwardians 1st XI at Mathon Court that saw half centuries made by Sukhraj Gill (98) and Abdul B Azam (86) for the visitors in the first innings and Dominic Weston (84), Stephen Smith (61) and Craig Miller (51) for the home team in the second.
Elsewhere in the division, Nasar Ali (7-28) helped Lye 2nd XI end Rushwick 1st XIs promotion hopes as his second innings haul moved them to within fourteen points of the promotion places. Romsley & Hunnington 1st XI kept their promotion hopes alive with a comfortable win against Stourport-on-Severn 3rd XI and finally Christorher Walder (91) helped Chaddesley Corbett 2nd XI gain an important win against basement side Eastnor 1st XI which drew them thirty points clear of the relegation zone.
With some very interesting results recorded in Week 16 each division now looks extremely tight at the top and bottom with only Netherton CC 1st XI clear of the chasing pack in Division Three looking the only certainties for promotion and with six matches to play (one Win/Lose/Draw and five Win/Lose) all things point to an exhilarating climax to affairs in all divisions with everyone knowing that now is the most the important time to find form……………….
In Division Five Imran Sharif (111) scored a first innings century and Oscar Lyttle (5-40) took five second innings wickets for Harborne 4th XI in a win against Pershore 2nd XI that saw them climb to the top of the division at the expense of their opponents, former leaders Droitwich Spa 2nd XI who were beaten by Malvern 1st XI (who breathed new life in to their promotion challenge in fifth) and the other team who were joint second last week Worcester Nomads 2nd XI who lost to Hanley Castle & Upton 1st XI for whom Lloyd Lewis (81) and Captain Tristan Robinson (58*) posted second innings half centuries in a five wicket win.
It now looks like two from the top five teams as Colwall 2nd XI who are in sixth sit thirty four points further back after is now a losing to Astwood Bank 3rd XI by just six runs in a high scoring match at Hanbury, whilst in other matches Ben Whitton (131) posted a first innings century for Barnt Green 3rd XI in a forty run win against Pedmore 2nd XI for whom Joseph Porter (104) posted a century of his own in the second innings and Bewdley 2nd XI chased down Halesowen 3rd XIs challenging first innings total to win by four wickets to open up some breathing space at the foot of the table.
Hagley 2nd XI now look to be in an unassailable position at the top of Division Six as they now enjoy a fifty nine point and second placed Cutnall Green 1st XI were beaten by Stourbridge 3rd XI who pulled to within two points of their opponents with only Enville 2nd XI a further point ahead in third after they managed to beat Bromyard 2nd XI by a two wicket margin thanks to Joe Bromfield’s (88) timely second innings contribution.
In other matches Simon Clarke (105) scored a second innings century for Kidderminster 3rd XI in their win against Cleobury Mortimer 1st XI to keep them in the hunt for promotion as they remain sixteen points further back in fifth place. Daniel Ross (5-37) took five first innings wickets and Scott Ralph (68*) and Arthur Smallman (57*) posted undefeated second innings half centuries in a nine wicket triumph against Old Vigornians 2nd XI to drag Himley 3rd XI off the bottom of the table and Steve Thomas (74) helped Belbroughton 2nd XI beat and move above Alveley 1st XI who remain just fourteen points clear of the drop zone at the lower end of the table.
The status quo remains at the top of Division Seven as the top three all recorded victories to pull twenty-nine points clear of the fourth placed Bartestree & Lugwardine 2nd XI who tasted defeat at the hands of Ombersley 3rd XI for whom George Baldwin (71*) helped home with an unbeaten second innings half century.
Top dogs Tenbury Wells 1st XI coasted to nine wicket victory batting second against Five Ways Old Edwardians 2nd XI are nineteen points clear of Burghill, Tillington & Weobley 2nd XI who dismissed Stourport on Severn 3rd XI cheaply in the first innings to win by seven wickets whilst two points further back are Claverley 2nd XI for whom Mohammed Khan (88*) led the way to a comfortable win against Birlingham 1st XI in a rain reduced match which saw Kristian Richardson (97*) left undefeated, three runs short of a deserved second innings hundred when play was closed.
Elsewhere in the division, Rushwick 2nd XI beat Oldswinford 2nd XI by two wickets to stay in mid division and retain their outside chance of gaining promotion and Barnards Green 3rd XI beat Bromsgrove 4th XI to move in to seventh, well clear of the relegation zone.
Harvington 1st XI continue to lead the way in Division Eight and enjoy a fifteen points lead after Josh Hoyes (5-5) helped restrain second placed Romsley & Hunnington 2nd XI in the second innings to secure the win in the battle of the top two. This result helped Alvechurch & Hopwood 2nd XI move in to second position, twenty five points further back after they beat Old Elizabethans 3rd XI by six wickets at Neel Park.
In the other matches played in the division Martley 2nd XI beat Halesowen 3rd XI to move further clear of the drop zone, Cookley 2nd XI secured an important win against Feckenham 2nd XI to pull them out of the drop zone at the expense of Worcester 3rd XI who were well beaten by Kidderminster 4th XI and finally Christopher Harler 155 struck an unbeaten first innings century in Stone 1st XIs win against Highley 1st who are bottom and need to find form quickly if they are to avoid the drop.
The Division Nine Regional Division teams played their fourteenth matches out of eighteen at the weekend.
In Division Nine (North) Harborne 5th XI continue to lead the way after beating Bewdley 3rd XI by nine wickets to remain forty five points clear of second placed Droitwich Spa 4th XI who beat Himley 4th XI by a two wicket margin. Simon Oseland (100) helped Netherton 3rd XI stay third and remain just twelve points adrift of the promotion places after beating Oldswinford 3rd XI by a wide margin. Stourbridge 4th XI are next in fourth but realistically too far away the proportion places after recording their seventh victory of the season against Coombs Wood 3rd XI whilst in the other match in the division Enville 3rd XI beat Alveley 2nd XI to create further distance to the drop zone.
In Division Nine (Central) things are a little tighter as top dogs Cookhill 1st XI continue to hold a twenty-six point lead at the summit after Pete Alexander (84*) steered them to a comfortable eight wicket win against Himbleton 2nd XI with an undefeated second innings half century. Benjamin Foster (5-19) and Anthony Redfern (4-15) shared nine first innings wickets between them in Droitwich Spa 3rd XIs seven wicket win against Redditch Entaco 3rd XI who drop to fourth place . Harborne 6th XI beat Astwood Bank 4th XI in a high scoring match at Richmond Road to stay in touch in third. Yasein Baig (91) helped Old Elizabethans 4th XI to a good win against Chaddesley Corbett 3rd XI and finally Andy Pittam (5-27) took five wickets for Avoncroft 2nd XI in the first innings to set up a ten wicket win against lowly Hagley 3rd XI.
Paris Ali-Arif (70*) helped Kempsey 2nd XI shoot to the top of Division Nine (South) table as his second innings half century helped beat recent form horses Hallow Taverners 1st XI (now second) by a nine wicket margin. Third placed Bosbury 1st XI failed to make the most of this result as they were well beaten by Malvern 2nd XI at the Ramblers Ground and remain four points off the promotion places in third, two points ahead of fourth placed Bredon 2nd XI who bounced back in to the race for the play offs when Clive Fenney (164*) helped them post a substantial first innings score which proved too many for Colwall 3rd XI to chase in the second innings whilst in the remaining matches in the division Charlie Tobey (7-30) returned excellent second innings figures for Brockhampton 3rd XI in their big win against West Malvern 2nd XI and Bromyard 3rd XI beat basement side Eastnor 2nd XI.
The Regional Division Ten competition reached its divisional climax on Saturday. After matches in all Division Ten Groups came to fruition the following Quarter-Final schedule was cemented as the culmination of all results led to the following Quarter-Final ties that will be played on Saturday 6th August.;
- Lye CC 3rd XI v Old Halesonians CC 1st XI
- Avoncroft CC 3rd XI v Pedmore CC 3rd XI
- Inkberrow CC 1st XI v Tenbury Wells 2nd XI
- Worcester Nomads CC 3rd XI v Pershore CC 4th XI
Winners of the Quarter-Finals will qualify for the Semi-Finals that will be played on Saturday 13th August 2022.
Stuart Lampitt
