WEST MALVERN closed in on securing promotion from Division Five of the Worcestershire County League following their ten-run victory over league leaders Tenbury Wells.
Tenbury chose to field after winning the toss and bowled West Malvern out for just 189 in the 50th over.
Despite opener Steve Wright (12) sent back to the pavilion early doors, a strong second-wicket partnership between Philip Chaundy (46) and Will Lloyd (25) pushed the score along.
However, West Malvern’s lower order crumbled under the pressure of Aaron Morris’ bowling as he claimed six wickets for 47 runs.
Matt Penkoks (29) and Dominic West (17 no) also contributed with the bat for West Malvern who posted a below-par score.
In response, the league leaders got off to a flying start as opener Morris hit a useful 63 but after being caught and bowled by Rowan Dakin, Tenbury’s innings went downhill.
Andrew Adams (13) and Henry Anton (17) added small batches of runs before being dismissed as Dakin turned the screw to claim five more wickets (6-40).
Despite David Hunt hitting a stubborn 38, Tenbury fell just short in their run chase as they were bowled out all for 179, gifting West Malvern a crucial 24 points.
It appears West Malvern only need to claim victory against Old Elizabethans Thirds on Saturday to clinch promotion to Division Four.
HANLEY CASTLE & UPTON’s good run of form in Division Four was brought to an abrupt end by league leaders Martley as they succumbed to 110-run defeat.
Martley were put into bat after losing the toss before reaching 333-9 with the help of 180 from middle-order batsman Alexander Basford.
Patrick Bibby (26) and Dominic Jones (28) also contributed to the tally while Barton Mathews (3-40) got the pick of the wickets for a Hanley side fresh off the back of back-to-back league wins.
Despite spirited batting performances from Ollie Price (56), Ewan Finlayson (36) and James Appleby (42 no), Hanley were eventually bowled out for 223 in the 47th over.
Mark Johnson (2-25), Daniel Johnson (2-35) and Alexander Basford (2-15) shared the wickets for Martley.
Hanley find themselves 20 points above the drop zone with five games remaining and face another tough test on Saturday against fourth placed Astwood Bank.
BARNARDS GREEN have now gone six games without a Birmingham League Division One victory following their six-wicket defeat to league leaders Brockhampton.
Green chose to bat with Kyle Giniotis (48) leading the way as the North End Lane outfit were bowled out for 228 in the 54th over.
Worcestershire’s George Rhodes scored 30 while Alex Hepburn (31), skipper Phil Harris (31), Will Dovey (24 no) and Ashlea Brewer (23) also contributed to the tally.
Ryan Tongue (3-39) got the lion’s share of the wickets for a Brockhampton side which cruised to victory in the 51st over.
The visitors got off to a storming start as they reached 120 for the first wicket, with opener James Mokler (36) departing from the bowling of Rhodes (2-46).
Fellow opener Ryan Tongue proved to be the star of the show as his 112, which featured 19 fours and one six, guided the Herefordshire-based outfit to 186-4.
Joe Crichard (26 no) and Ian Bullock (23 no) then ticked off the remaining runs as Brockhampton reached 230-4 after 50.1 overs.
Green, who have not won a game in more than a month, will hope to put their torrid run of form to end on Saturday when they take on second-from-bottom Old Hill.
COLWALL put an end to their four-game losing streak in Division One with a comfortable 104-run victory over fourth-from-bottom Pedmore.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, Colwall reached 276-9 from 50 overs with the help of 79 from skipper James Abel which was backed up by Wehan Joubert (46), James Wagstaff (36 no) and Chris Kendall (26 no).
Daniel Such (3-31) and Dave Skelding (3-41) got a share of the wickets for a Pedmore side who were skittled out 172 in the 44th over.
Skelding (62) top scored for Pedmore while captain James Burgoyne (22), Matthew Porter (14), Jonathan Heardman (13) and Paul Taylor (14 no) added runs but failed to build partnerships to gift a much-needed victory to Colwall who sit 46 points behind league leaders Nomads with five games remaining.
Colwall entertain second-from-bottom Belbroughton on Saturday.
KEMPSEY boosted their hopes of climbing into the two promotion spaces in Division Three of the Worcestershire County League with an impressive eight-wicket victory over Bartestree & Lugwardine.
Bartestree chose to bat after winning the toss and reached 278-4 from 50 overs with the help of top scorer Ben Chaplin (94) who was backed up by a strong fifth-wicket partnership between David Robinson (65 no) and Andy Jones (41 no).
In response, Kempsey got off to a good start as skipper Zakary O’Neill (95) and Chris Jones (51) put on a stand of 98 for the first wicket.
O’Neill was joined at the crease by Tristan Robinson (83 no) before the former was dismissed with the score at 264-2.
Samuel O’Neill (12 no) added the winning runs as Kempsey claimed 20 points to maintain their hopes of going up to Division Two.
Kempsey entertain basement club Cleobury Mortimer on Saturday.
MALVERN boosted their hopes of climbing out the Division Three relegation zone with a much-needed and confidence-boosting 61-run victory over Avoncroft.
After being put into bat, Malvern posted a mammoth score of 375-9 from 50 overs with the help of 117 from Rob Francis who was making a rare appearance.
Despite Avoncroft skipper Craig Huges also hitting 117 and the in-form David James notching up 66, the home side closed on 314 all out after 50 overs.
Malvern now sit just 23 points behind third-from-bottom Barnards Green Thirds, who they face on Saturday for a crunch clash which could well decide who stays up and who goes down.