Report submitted by Worcestershire County League

At the halfway point of the season Stourbridge bounced back with a victory against Old Elizabethans at the War Memorial Ground to retain top spot in the Worcestershire County League Premier Division. They now enjoy a nineteen point lead over Stourport-on-Severn who took full advantage of Bromyard’s slip up at Bewdley to go second when they beat Colwall at Stowe Lane by six wickets.

Elsewhere, Pershore moved in to fifth place after they beat Old Hill by three wickets at Haden Hill, Astwood Bank beat Brockhampton at Sambourne Lane and now sit in mid division after Sam Thomas (4-12) and Dan Thomas (4-39) shared eight second innings wickets between them and Worcester closed the gap at the bottom of the table with an important win against Redditch at Norton Barracks.

Jake Young (64) and Max Young (60) helped Droitwich Spa win the Division One top of the table clash against Ombersley who drop to fourth after Worcester Nomads, led by Captain Sam Roberts (89*) beat second placed Feckenham by four wickets at Mill Lane to go third and ignite their challenge.

In other matches in the division Dave Skelding (5-44) returned excellent first innings figures for Pedmore but Mozamir Zulfiqar (5-2) answered with aplomb for Lye in the second innings to secure the win which moved Lye in to fifth spot. Chaddesley Corbett climbed in to eight place by beating Burghill, Tillington & Weobley by eight wickets and Coombs Wood beat Belbroughton at Hackmans Gate Lane which meant they swapped places with Oldswinford & Stourbridge Social who lost to Hagley for whom Jonathan Miles (72*) and Alex Millard (66) were the main contributors in a well needed win.

Astwood Bank 2nd XI and Cookley helped breathe life in to the Division Two title race as they both recorded key victories against leaders Barnt Green 2nd XI and last week’s second placed team Himley 2nd XI respectively. Pete Alexander (93) was the main protagonist for Astwood Bank 2nd XI as his first innings contribution helped secure the win for the visitors at Cherry Hill Road whilst a forty nine run win against Himley 2nd XI saw Cookley bounce back in to second whilst their opponents dropped to fifth.

Elsewhere, Kidderminster 2nd XI beat Enville by five wickets to move in to third place, Bredon beat Barnards Green 2nd XI by three runs and remain fifth. Tom Green (119*) helped Bromsgrove 2nd XI beat Halesowen 2nd XI for whom Alex Hinkley (110) scored a fine second innings century and Jon Critchlow (93*) and Joe Corlett (76*) shared an unbroken one hundred and seventy-eight run first innings stand for Himbleton in their ten wicket win against Netherton which saw the two clubs swap places at the bottom end of the table.

In Division Three Matthew Tulacz (73) helped in form Bartestree & Lugwardine move in to third place as the Herefordshire based outfit inflicted the second defeat in a row on leaders Alvechurch & Hopwood who are now just one point ahead of Harborne 3rd XI who beat Brockhampton 2nd XI by forty runs at the Parks to go second.

In other matches, Dominic Jones (84) helped Martley stay in fourth place as his first innings contribution helped post a first innings total that proved out of Old Hill 2nd XIs reach. Angus Rees (114*) scored an unbeaten first innings century in fifth placed Old Elizabethans 2nd XIs win against bottom club Worcester 2nd XI. Redditch 2nd XI beat Avoncroft by forty-eight runs to move in to mid division and Joe Sullivan (112) and Oliver Tsiquaye (106) both posted first innings centuries for Old Vigornians in their comprehensive win against Rushwick.

In Division Four the status quo remains as Arslan Iqbal (5-25) helped Netherton 2nd XI to a comprehensive win against Pershore 2nd XI at the Bottoms. Second placed Coombs Wood 2nd XI beat Bewdley 2nd XI by nine wickets, third placed Stourbridge 2nd XI amassed the high score of the day in their win against Stourport-on-Severn CC 2nd XI at Walshes Meadow and Eastnor made the trip to Romsley & Hunnington and won to stay fourth.

Elsewhere, Five Ways Old Edwardians beat Lye 2nd XI by a wide margin to stay fifth and Chaddesley Corbett 2nd XI beat Bromsgrove 3rd XI at the Hedges Ground to move in to mid division.