Division One

Resurgent Smethwick closed to within two points of the top of the table following a nail-biting one-wicket victory at leaders Knowle & Dorridge.

Put into bat, the hosts made steady progress thanks to opener George Maddy (45) and Ethan Berlusconi (50) only for a mid-innings wobble to see them lose four wickets for just 15 runs.

Isaac Maddy (pictured) then steadied the ship on his way to an unbeaten 43 off 41 balls and at the end of their 50 overs K&D reached 253/9. The wickets were spread around with Yasir Ali taking 2-31, Gurbaj Singh 2-36 and Deepak Khatri 2-37.

In reply, the visitors were soon in trouble losing their first four wickets for just 27 before they were given hope by big-hitting Indian ace Khatri who smashed eights sixes on his way to an 85-ball 106.

Another flurry of wickets then left Smethwick's last three batters needing 62 from 11 overs. However, in pace bowlers Manraj Johal (34) and Ali (30no) the defending champions found an unlikely pair of batting heroes who with some last-gasp assistance from Sagar Udeshi dragged Smethwick over the line with nine balls to spare. Home skipper Currill finished with 3-45 while the pacy Tom Davis bagged 2-41 and Neil Pinner 2-51.

Although they finished on the losing side, K&D’s maximum return of eight bonus points mean they still control their own destiny with three games to go unless weather intervenes.

Halesowen look to have slipped from the reckoning following their 43-run defeat at the hands of Barnards Green. Skipper Ryan Tongue hit 84 from 60 balls including seven sixes to help the Worcestershire side reach 213/9. Former Leicestershire all-rounder George Rhodes added a useful 45 off 43 balls while Ed Bragg claimed 3-28 and Charlie Egerton took 3-52.

After losing an early wicket, 40 from Arun Kalsi and 60 from Fin Goodman raised Halesowen's hopes but after Oliver Halion stepped in with 4-40 the hosts' response closed on 170-9.

Half-centuries from Dani Khan (68) and Adnaan Riaz (54) helped Dorridge to 249/9 and a 59-run victory over Barnt Green which clinched their Division One future for another season.

Jack Warner finished with 3-32 for Barnt Green who were then bowled out for 190 despite Archie Greaves-Hall's fine 67. Shayan Alam finished with 3-27.

Long-time basement pair Kenilworth Wardens and Moseley now know they will compete in Division Two next season after respectively slipping to defeat at the hands of Himley and Shrewsbury.

Wardens' latest top-flight stay ended after just 19 games when Himley's influential all-rounder Ollie Walker delivered a virtuoso display which carried his team to a 15-run home win in a game which started late due to overnight rain.

Walker made an unbeaten 104 from 102 balls and with skipper Oliver Westbury adding 49 Wardens were left to chase 216/5. In reply, Ben Blakemore hit 76 off 69 deliveries but star turn Walker bagged 3-32 and Dinuk De Silva 3-45 to restrict the visitors to 201/9.

2023 champions Moseley lost by six wickets at home to Shrewsbury even though opener Ali Awan scored 93. Unfortunately, overseas import Salmaan Ajam (49) was the only other batsman in double figures as Zimbabwean quickie Dustin Melton ripped through their batting line-up on his way to 5-19.

The visitors needed just 28 overs to hit their target with George Hargrave unbeaten on 66 and Rhodri Evans making 50 off 48 balls.

Ombersley were convincing 109-run winners at home to Harborne. Half-centuries from Seth Essenhigh (91), Joel Cox (61) and Sinel Gunarathne (54) helped the hosts to 351/7 - a total that always looked out of reach for the Birmingham side even though Warwickshire keeper Kai Smith made 68 from 58 balls.

Division Two

Attock have been crowned Division Two champions following their three-wicket win over Old Hill and Berkswell’s defeat at the hands of Milford Hall. Attock skipper Qasim Tanvir put the visitors into bat and they made 251/9 with Bilal Hassan (69) and Omar Masood (55) the leading lights with the bat. Opener Aarib Khan then hit 77 and Rizwan Hussain 62 not out to guide the league leaders to 253/7, to victory and to the title. Saad Naseem did his best to keep them in check with 5-33.

Berkswell are still second but cannot catch their rivals following their hefty 161-run loss at home to Milford Hall. Having been put into bat, openers Theo Wylie (108) and Jordan Bulpitt (78) put on 171 for the first Milford wicket. With Hamid Saleem taking 6-49, others found runs hard to come by but they still posted 306/9. There was a nightmare start to Berkswell’s innings, losing openers Ethan Wragg and Will Tarrant without a run on the board. Will Iles hit 50 but there was no way back for the Warwickshire side.

Shifnal were also big winners at home to basement club Worfield, taking the honoours by six wickets. The visitors posted 250 which included 100 from captain Ross Aucott and a rapid 63 off 50 balls from Will Cook. Jack Twigger was the pick of the bowlers with 3-29. It took Shifnal 43 overs to reach 252/4 and had opener Joe Johnson in fine form, scoring 133 off 103 balls including seven 6s and 15 4s. There was also an unbeaten half-century from Rahul Kaushal.

An unbeaten 96 from captain Jonathan Wigley was not enough to save his Leamington side from a three-wicket defeat at Wolverhampton. The visitors made 218/5 only for their hosts to reach 219/7 with nearly ten overs in hand. Rishin Upamal (87) and Will Nield (64) led the way while Tom Warner finished with 3-52.

James Rudge hit 111 not out and Tom Smith 50 to help Tamworth to 260/6 and victory at home to West Bromwich Dartmouth. Liam Brazier then took three wickets to leave the visitors on 222/8, Ateeq Javid top scoring with 67.

The day’s other game saw Stourbridge beat Kidderminster by 52 runs at Chester Road. Jaspreet Singh was the top scorer for the Black Country side with 59 off just 44 deliveries, helping his team to 244 all out. Nathan Jukes finished with 3-29 and Ali Latif 3-55. Kidderminster were dismissed for 192 thanks to the bowling of James Turton (3-35) and Dominic O’Reilly (3-26) with Jukes capping a decent afternoon with his top score of 43.