In the Worcestershire County Premier Division Ted Bayliss (148) continued his excellent end of season form when me compiled a classy first innings century for champions Stourport-on-Severn 1st XI against Old Elizabethans 1st XI at Walshes Farm Meadow.
However, a rear-guard action in the second innings led by Angus Rees (84) helped the visitors seal a thrilling one wicket victory that guaranteed their Premier Division position for next season, which as a result means the battle to avoid relegation now lies between two teams Bromyard 1st XI who beat Stourbridge 1st XI by five runs to end their play-off hopes and just one point further back in eleventh Ombersley 2nd XI who grabbed an important eighteen run victory against Droitwich Spa 1st XI at St Peters Field.
In other matches, relegated Colwall 1st XI were beaten by Redditch 1st XI for whom Russell Southwick (100) posted a first innings century.
Astwood Bank 1st XI bowled Pershore 1st XI out cheaply in the second innings to seal a comfortable win which keeps their play-off hopes alive as they sit just seven points behind the second placed team Old Hill 1st for whom Bilal Hassan (5-7) was the main protagonist in a convincing ten wicket win against Brockhampton 1st XI at Haden Hill which affirmed their position as favourites for the Birmingham & District Premier League play-offs.
Congratulations to Worcester Nomads 1st XI who became Division One Champions on Saturday when they beat Lye 1st XI by nine wickets in a rain affected encounter at Whitegates Farm.
After the loss of an early second innings wicket overseas star Maxwell Meyer (87*) strode to the crease needing just twenty runs to reach the magical one thousand run mark for the season.
After a watchful start Meyer quickly found his groove by putting a way the bad ball and then continued in a fluent way to firstly pass the one thousand run mark and then continued on to show his class to finish undefeated at the end of the innings after playing his part in compiling a one hundred and fifty three run partnership with captain and opening batsman Sam Roberts (59*).
In other matches, Sakib Ali (77*) guided Chaddesley Corbett 1st XI to a five wicket win against Halesowen 2nd XI at Seth Somers Park which sealed the second promotion place.
Hayden Froggatt (104) contributed a first innings century in Barnt Green 2nd XI's comprehensive win against Bewdley 1st XI, a win which guaranteed third place as the only team that could catch them, Coombs Wood 1st XI lost by seven wickets at home to Worcester 1st XI whose late season form has propelled them to mid division.
With the top three positions resolved this is far from the case at the bottom end where Kidderminster 2nd XI remain routed to the bottom of the table thirteen points behind last Saturday's opponents Hagley 1st XI who recorded a key victory against them at Chester Road Sports Club after Alex Millard (150) top scored with a brilliant first innings century and a further six points behind Oldswinford 1st XI who suffered a five wicket loss against Pedmore 1st XI. With seventeen points between the bottom three it will definitely be two from these three who make the drop with Kidderminster 2nd XI having the most to do to survive as both Oldswinford and Hagley battling hard for wins no doubt.
Bromsgrove 2nd XI made up for last season’s last day disappointment when they failed to gain promotion from Division Two by just one point as Matthew Russell (78) led them home to a seven wicket victory against Cookley 1st XI at St. Godwalds Road to secure the title.
The battle for second position remains fascinating however with Burghill, Tillington & Weobley 1st XI (who ended Alvechurch & Hopwood 1st XIs hopes of promotion with a sixty one run win) and Himley 2nd XI (for whom Hasitha De Silva 107 scored a first innings century in their ninety nine run win against Enville 1st XI which ended Enville's push) locked in joint second position on two hundred and ninety nine points, but with both teams playing teams who have been relegated Burghill must be favourites as they are currently ahead on the number of wins.
Elsewhere in the division, Bartestree & Lugwardine 1st XI beat Harborne 3rd XI by eight wickets to effectively end their feint hopes of promotion. Joe Corlett (95) and Mike Rogers (92) helped Himbleton 1st XI post too many for visiting Bredon 1st XI to chase at Harrow Lane and Alex Robinson (60) helped Astwood Bank 3rd XI to a nine wicket victory against Belbroughton 1st XI who will now be playing their cricket in division three next season.
Champions Netherton 1st XI who were presented with the Division Three winners Shield before their match with second placed Avoncroft 1st XI on Saturday continued in their winning vain by inflicting a painful four run defeat on their visitors in a rain reduced match at Highbridge Road. A result that helped both Redditch 2nd XI who beat Old Elizabethans 2nd XI for whom Chris Pearman 101 scored a first innings century) to move in to second spot and prime position for promotion, three points ahead of Barnards Green 2nd XI who also moved above Avoncroft in to third place after Ben Sutton (100*) and Oliver Hallion (82*) ensured they reached their second innings target for the loss of just two wickets against Martley 1st XI.
In other matches in the division, Jake Brigdale (109) led the way for Stourbridge 2nd XI who now need a miracle to gain promotion despite beating Feckenham 1st XI by a country mile. Brockhampton 2nd XI beat Old Hill 2nd XI by eight wickets, a result that ensured their safety but left Old Hill requiring nine points from their final match to guarantee safety as they currently sit twelve points ahead of Old Vigornians 1st XI who beat Coombs Wood 2nd XI who are already relegated by nine wickets to close the gap to safety.
Division Four is the only division in the top five where the title is yet to be decided as Netherton 2nd XI who beat Chaddesley Corbett 2nd XI in a high scoring match at Longmore in which Alexander Roden (119) posted a second innings century for the home team remained thirteen points ahead of second placed Lye 2nd XI who beat Five Ways Old Edwardians 1st XI by eight wickets.
This means that both Netherton and Lye have now secured promotion to Division Three next season but will battle it out for the title on Saturday with Netherton 2nd XI the clear favourites as they hold a thirteen point lead at the top.
Elsewhere in the division, Claverley 1st XI who beat Bromsgrove 3rd XI by five wickets at the Hedges Ground and West Malvern 1st XI for whom Charles Bevan (93*) finished seven runs short of a second innings century in their eight wicket win against Worcester 2nd XI (now relegated) at Norton Barracks sit level on points in third with one match to go.
These two are now well clear of Stourport-on-Severn 2nd XI who dropped further back in fifth position after losing to Eastnor 1st XI by three wickets, a result that gave Eastnor an outside chance of avoiding the drop if Chaddesley Corbett 2nd XI and Rushwick 1st XI who lost by three wickets to Romsley & Hunnington 1st XI fail to pick up seven and two points respectively from their final fixture.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here