Worcestershire County Cricket League

SUMMARY of results SATURDAY July 21

First XIS Division One

We are now getting towards the stage of the season when most clubs in Division One will be looking at the table for two reasons: can we win it? And where do we need to finish to qualify for a place in next season’s revamped Worcestershire County Premier League?

The answers to both are very much up for grabs for a number of clubs.

Firstly, the title. Stourport have to be regarded as favourites as they are top and seem to be doing everything right at present, especially after turning in a very good allround team performance to beat second-placed local rivals Bewdley by five wickets.

This win gives them a 15 point lead at the top, 23 points clear of thirdplaced Evesham, whose match against fifth-placed Worcester was arranged to be played at Bidfordon-avon due to the current unfit nature of Evesham’s outfield ground.

However this was abandoned after the umpires deemed the outfield at Bidford unfit and dangerous for play due to large pot holes and cracks caused by the latest spell of hot weather. Despite this unfortunate situation Evesham stay third and Worcester fifth and still in the hunt for both title and, more likely, Premier League status next year.

Another team who will be eyeing both title and qualification for next year’s County Premier League are Chaddesley who currently sit in fourth place, inside the current estimated top five qualification places for next year’s County Premier League and just thirty-six points off the top of the table after a comfortable seven wicket victory at Feckenham.

Further down the table in sixth place, seven points off the estimated qualification places are Hagley, who will probably now be looking more at gaining one of the top five positions which would guarantee them a place in next season’s County Premier division. Michael Stead helped to ensure they kept up the fight for the top five with a half-century that helped the home side compile a match winning score against visiting Worcester Nomads, who seem to be drifting off the pace in eighth place, fiftytwo points off fifth.

In other matches bottom club Burghill compiled a huge first innings score of 326 to beat Cookley by a wide margin.

Colwall, despite the best efforts of Pedmore all-rounder Callum White (50 & 4-68) won at Pedmore, a win that keeps them in touch of a potential top five qualifying position. An exciting end to the season awaits ...

Division Two

The top three are separated by a meagre eighteen points and potentially four other clubs will think they still have a chance if they finish well and results go for them.

Oldswinford maintained the status quo at the top as they compiled a huge first innings total to beat Droitwich by a wide margin and stay nine points clear of secondplaced Coombs Wood, for whom ex-worcestershire player Nathan Round scored an excellent century in their victory over Old Vigornians.

Belbroughton remain third, a further nine points behind Coombs Wood after cruising past Bredon at Hackman’s Gate Lane by one hundred and twenty eight runs.

Bromyard are in fourth but slipped off the pace following a disappointing performance at Flaggoners Green, which allowed Bartestree to walk away with a six-wicket win.

Enville are now in sixth place and only seven points off fourth following a four wicket victory over lowly Kempsey.

Alastair Pretty scored a century as Himbleton beat basement side Wormelow by twenty six runs.

Division Three

Table-toppers Lye brushed aside Alvechurch & Hopwood, who slipped to fifth by five wickets. Netherton beat Avoncroft to stay second thanks to a magnificent second innings undefeated 125 from Matthew Lowe.

Rushwick were indebted to Paul Wyatt, who replied to Matt Carver’s first innings century for Malvern with a quickfire second innings century of his own to set up a two-wicket victory for third-placed Rushwick.

Harborne leap-frogged Alvechurch into fourth after making it back-toback wins as Ian Powick’s 71 helped them beat Five Ways Old Edwardians by a tight five-run margin on the road. Mark Bilbrough’s 67 helped Bromsgrove chase down Martley’s first innings total to secure a win, while Hanley Castle’s season brightened as Will St. Leger-chambers’ 68 lead them to only their second win of the season against Eastnor.

Division Four

The title looks like it should be a race between three clubs now as tabletoppers Halesowen enjoyed a forty-two run win at home against Stourbridge.

Romsley remain second and kept up the heat on the leaders, seeing off fourth-placed Claverley, a defeat that now finds Claverley fifty three points off top spot. Astwood Bank lie in third position, just six points behind second place and sixteen off top spot after beating Tenbury.

Game of the day was at Himley, where Luke Bradley scored 159 for the home team and Chris Parkes 147 for visitors Alveley, however the plaudits must go to Alveley’s pair of Tom Guy (16 not out) and Archie Pugh (20 not out) who compiled a vital last wicket partnership to give their team a dramatic one-wicket victory with just one ball to spare.

In other matches, West Malvern’s total proved too many for Stourport to chase, and in a low-scoring match at Hallow, Kidderminster’s Mike Kirbydavies took 5-11 in the second innings to guide the visitors home by twenty seven runs.