Division One

Halesowen and Harborne stand between Smethwick and back-to-back Division One titles after Shrewsbury's chance to apply pressure was ended by a round 20 wash-out.

Rawait Khan's team now need 21 points from these final two games to retain a crown which - prior to their 2022 success - had eluded them since the 1960s. Indeed, but for a near miss behind Moseley in 2023, the Black Country outfit could currently be seeking a dynasty-making four consecutive titles.

When the rain arrived, Smethwick's powerful batting line-up seemed well-placed to chase down Shrewsbury's 191 all out - although the early loss of recent centurion Raj Beniwal had by then raised the visitors' hopes.

Skipper Lewis Evans earlier crafted a well-paced unbeaten half-century which, with some help from the tail, enabled the Shrews to recover from an unpromising 130/8. Yasir Ali claimed 3-34 for the hosts.

The Shropshire side have already exceeded most expectations following their return to the top flight and with games against bottom pair Berkswell and Himley remaining seem set to push Smethwick all the way to the finishing post.

Berkswell's glory days produced four league titles between 2016 and 21, but a difficult 2025 season now seems certain to end in relegation after their game at Barnt Green met the same rainy end as the other five Division One contests.

Ben Chapman-Lilley (73) and his captain Romi Brar, who make an aggressive 50-ball 77, starred with the bat for a home side that reached 254/4 from 44.2 overs. 

Who joins the Meeting House Lane outfit in Division Two is a testing question since tenth-placed Wolverhampton hold only a slender five-point advantage over drop rivals Himley with two games remaining.

Next Saturday's trip to Berkswell presents Wolves with a golden opportunity to seal their safety after this week's home game against Barnards Green was abandoned at its midpoint when the visitors had recovered from the depths of 8/5 to post 191/9.

Former Worcestershire all-rounder George Rhodes was the hero of the hour with a 132-ball unbeaten 95 to which exciting pace-bowling prospect Charlie Taylor (38) offered good support. New-ball pair Charles Jackson and Sam Ellis shared six wickets for the hosts.

Himley were left to rue the arrival of the weather front after a good bowling display at Streetsbrook Road reduced Moseley to 161/8 from 41.4 overs.

Returning Bear Keith Barker made 41 from the top of the home order but it was the last remaining fit member of the Awan family, Abdullah, who caught the eye with a battling unbeaten 61. Jamie Turner led the way with the ball for Himley with 3/32.

ECB National Club Championship semi-finalists and Graham Williamson T20 Challenge Cup runners-up Knowle & Dorridge are still very much in the mix to claim second place in the league. Their batting has performed well all year and it was Harborne's attack who were the latest to hit the buffers at Station Road where Ollie Currill's side piled up 318/6 from 50 overs.

The youthful George Maddy (94) and Omaris Khan (52) provided late acceleration after their more seasoned top-order colleagues Alex Phillips (48) and Neil Pinner (64) laid the foundations. Warwickshire's Oliver Hannon-Dalby claimed three scalps for the visitors.

Third-placed Halesowen also still harbour realistic hopes of finishing as runners-up - perhaps behind Smethwick for a second consecutive season. However, their strong bowling attack was made to work hard at Ombersley where Worcestershire's Tom Hinley lashed five sixes and five fours in a brutal 47-ball 74. Yusuf Khalil earlier made a more sedate 51 for the hosts who reached 248/7 when rain arrived after 44.4 overs. 

Division Two

Kenilworth Wardens secured an immediate return to the top flight following their 2024 relegation when their visit to WB Dartmouth became one of six abandonments in Division Two.

Under the leadership of Tommy Rex for the first time, Wardens have looked promotion prospects from the beginning of the season and now holding a 17-point lead over second-placed Dorridge the destiny of the title is also very much in their hands.

Pakistan A batter Ali Zaryab has found a purple patch of late-season form since being promoted to the top of the order in recent weeks and this continued with an unbeaten 133 made from 116 balls at Sandwell Park. He added 204 in 30 overs with opening partner Harry Butler (68) and with 11 overs remaining and 245 on the board Dartmouth seemed likely to be chasing well over 300 when the rain arrived.

Dorridge make the trip to West Brom next week knowing they need only two points to clinch the second promotion place. Their Warwickshire derby at eleventh-placed Handsworth reached its 50-over midpoint with Joe Dodd's side having posted 248/7 of which opener Nabeel Mahmood carried his bat for an unbeaten 99.

Veteran off-spinners Bevon Brown (4-51) and Dwayne Crossgill (1-28) stood out for Handsworth for whom a victory at nearest rivals Kidderminster next Saturday is now essential if their survival hopes are to reach a round 22 trip to Kenilworth.

Kidderminster and Shifnal played less cricket than their 22 BDPCL rivals with only 38 overs possible before rain arrived in Telford. At this point the home side's six-man attack had all claimed a wicket to reduce the Carpet Men to 148/7 of which former Moseley keeper Ben Griffin made an unbeaten 46. 

Basement club Coventry's destiny is now out of their hands and their return to the Warwickshire League looks likely to be confirmed next week. With Scott Daly making 74, sixth-placed Tamworth had reached 238/6 at Binley Road when the heavens opened. Experienced pro Kuldeep Diwan claimed 2/23 for CNW.

Third-placed Leamington finished the day as the league's most frustrated side when a seemingly inevitable victory charge at mid-table Stourbridge was halted by the elements with the finishing tape in sight.

Only Mavarick Perry (33) made double figures for the hosts as left-arm pacemen Tom Randle (4/11) and James Hawkins (3/16) tore through a home batting line-up that was packed off for just 85 in 29.1 overs.

Although Spa then lost three early wickets, West Indian pro Rashawn Worrell had made an unbeaten 31 from just 18 balls to see his side to 56/3 from 9.1 overs when stumps were drawn.

Old Hill's superb journey to the last four of the ECB's National T20 Championship ended last Sunday, but their batters carried plenty of momentum into their return to league action.

As a result Worfield's bowlers took plenty of punishment at Haden Hill where skipper Bilal Hassan thrashed six sixes and 15 fours in a brilliant 86-ball 123 after opener Hasan Ahmed had made an equally outstanding 120-ball 118 containing five sixes and 14 boundaries.

Theo Picken claimed 4/79 as the visitors were left the small matter of 367 to win before the match was washed out at tea.