Although Premier Division One leaders Smethwick crushed struggling Leamington by 175 runs, they still need three wins from their last four matches to secure their first top-flight title since 1968. Barnt Green continue to push the Broomfield side all the way and emphasised their determination to fight to the end of the season by steam-rollering fellow “blue-chip” outfit Knowle & Dorridge by 10 wickets after dismissing their visitors for 43. The League’s leading wicket-taker, Andy Sutton, increased his total for the season to 55 with a magnificent spell of 7 for 20 from 10 overs. James Middleton (17) was the only K & D batter to reach double figures as Sutton, ably supported by Robbie Shurmer (2 for 22) cut a swathe through the hapless visitors. K & D’s misery was completed as Ed Pollock (31 not out) and Ben Chapman-Lilley (15 not out) blasted their way to the target in just four overs. The Station Road club are, now, in real danger of relegation with Shrewsbury closing in on them and Leamington and Shifnal scenting a late opportunity of survival. Meanwhile, Smethwick were deepening Leamington’s plight with an overwhelming win, inspired by Rajpal Beniwal (68), Rawait Khan (56) and Bilal Shafayat (47). It was a seventh wicket stand of 79 between Khan and Beniwal that enabled Smethwick to reach 273 for eight from 50 overs with three wickets apiece for Leamington’s Jon Wigley (3 for 30) and Josh De Souza (3 for 49). An inspired opening spell from Roshan Venkataraman (3 for 26) was a setback for Leamington early in their innings before leg-spinner Tazeem Ali (3 for 17) finished them off for 98. Despite this defeat, Leamington could, still avoid relegation with a couple of victories but time is beginning to run out, as it is for Shifnal, who were beaten at home by Berkswell by seven wickets. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, an opening stand of 65 between Jack Edwards (72) and Matt Denver (30) followed by a second wicket partnership of 83 by Edwards and Ethan Jamieson (33) saw Shifnal to a commanding position of 148 for two but they lost wickets, regularly, as they pressed the accelerator and closed on 251 for nine from 50 overs. After losing two early wickets for 30, Berkswell cruised to their target for the loss of one more wicket, thanks, mainly, to a third wicket stand of 156 between Ateeq Javid and Neil Dexter. The latter was out for a hard-hit 90 from 94 balls while Javid saw it through to the end with an unbeaten 99. The bottom five clubs are separated by 30 points but any one of them that picks up two wins from the last four games are, almost, guaranteed to avoid relegation.

Moseley and Kenilworth Wardens continue to track the leading two following wins against Kidderminster and Halesowen, while Ombersley moved into the top half of the table after a convincing victory over Shrewsbury, who along with K & D will be very wary of a late surge from Leamington and Shifnal. Kidderminster will also be looking over their shoulders after their 46 run defeat at Moseley who reached 284 for six from 50 overs. An opening stand of 88 between Keith Barker (62) and Asim Shoaib set them on their way with Ali Awan adding 55 in the middle order. Josh Tidmarsh took 3 for 60 for Kidderminster whose chance of an unlikely victory disappeared when the fourth wicket pair of Callum Bennett (73) and Matt Pardoe (56) were separated at 154 after adding 91. Yadvinder Singh took 3 for 30 as Kidderminster were dismissed for 238 in the 47th over. Wardens were invited to bat first and took advantage to the tune of 296 for seven against Halesowen with an unbeaten 112 from Ali Zaryab and 50 from Henry Cullen. Despite 68 from Shane Setia and 45 from Alexei Kervezee, Halesowen were fading away to a heavier defeat until they were revived by a brutal 58 from 46 balls from James Rudge. He was ninth out at 278, snapped up by Zaryab (4 for 46), who ended the game with the next ball to clinch an 18 run victory for Wardens. Ombersley also took advantage of an invitation to bat first by piling up 374 for six against Shrewsbury. Half-centuries from Liam Gwynne (76) and Josh Dell (58) helped their cause but the innings of the day came from Daryl Mitchell who crashed 100 from 74 balls including 16 fours and a six. After a gruelling spell in the heat, Shrewsbury made a brave attempt to chase down the runs, but they fell 88 runs short on 286 all out in the 47th over. George Hargrave top scored with 58 at a run a ball and Rob Foster hit 57 from 50 balls but a difficult task became impossible after Taylor Cornall stepped up to take 4 for 66.