Change was afoot at the top of the Premier Division as leaders Stourport-on-Severn 1st XI slipped to fourth position after suffering an eight wicket defeat against Astwood Bank 1st XI at Sambourne Lane, their second defeat in as many weeks in the WLD format.
After winning the toss and electing to bat the visitors were soon in trouble as their batsmen failed to come to grips with the opposition attack led by Daniel Thomas (5-35) who ripped through the middle order as his team dismissed them for a small total that the hosts had little trouble knocking off for the loss of two wickets.
As a result of this defeat for the leaders a total of three teams moved ahead of them as they all secured wins on the day.
Stourbridge 1st XI, who seem to have shaken off whatever early season blues they had went top after Jujhar Johal (73) led them to an eight wicket victory against Brockhampton 1st XI at the War Memorial Ground.
Old Hill 1st now sit just one point behind after their potent seam attack led by Aamir Manzoor (4-49) made light work of the Redditch 1st XI batting line up at Haden Hill to set up a comfortable seven wicket win and Pershore 1st XI who have made an unpredictable start to the season are now just six points off the lead in third place as they came out on the winning side by just one wicket against Old Elizabethans 1st XI in a low scoring match at the Memorial Ground.
Elsewhere, Australian Overseas Amateur Liam Dallimore (6-31) made the most of the sunny conditions by bowling Bromyard 1st XI to a maximum point win against Droitwich Spa 1st XI who are another team who seem to have lost their mojo after a bright start to the season.
Worcester Nomads 1st XI were forced to settle for a losing draw against an ever improving Chaddesley Corbett 1st XI who posted over three hundred in the first innings at Whitegates Farm thanks to Kamran Abbasi (128*) who carried his bat in another impressive performance from the newly promoted side.
It was a similar story in Division One as last week’s leaders Ombersley 2nd XI were comfortably beaten by Bromsgrove 2nd XI, result which allowed three teams to move ahead of them.
Pedmore 1st XI jumped back to the summit after Dave Skelding (4-22) continued his early season rich vein of form as he led an attack that dismissed visiting Bewdley 1st XI cheaply in the first innings to set up a maximum points win by seven wickets at Pedmore Hall Lane.
Five points adrift in second place sit Lye 1st XI for whom Gulham Abbas (93*) finished unbeaten in the second innings to steer his team home to a three wicket win against visiting Halesowen 2nd XI and Burghill.
Tillington & Weobley 1st XI move in to third place, just seven points further drift after a comprehensive first innings batting performance led by Mohammed Hassan (127*) helped them post a maximum points win against visiting Coombs Wood 1st XI at Brick House Farm.
Elsewhere, Hagley 1st XI continued their up and down start to the season when they lost at Stowe Lane to Colwall 1st XI and Isaac Hewetson (104) posted a first innings century for Barnt Green 2nd XI who were ultimately left frustrated by Worcester 1st XI who clung on to a losing draw, nine wickets down, forty nine runs short of the total in the second innings when the overs ran out
In Division Two Himley 2nd XIs lead was cut to just three points as they were held to a winning draw by visiting Harborne 3rd XI, a result that helped Alvechurch & Hopwood 1st XI to close the gap to just three points after beating Netherton 1st XI by six wickets, whilst Bartestree & Lugwardine 1st XI also prospered as they drew level on points with Netherton in third place after beating Oldswinford 1st XI by six wickets.
In other matches, Enville 1st XI remain in fifth place despite losing to Cookley 1st XI, Astwood Bank 2nd XI beat Redditch 2nd XI by eight wickets to move into mid division and Bredon 1st XI enjoyed the better of a close encounter against Kidderminster 2nd XI at Chester Road to earn a winning draw after the home team finished just eight runs short of the target, nine wickets down when the second innings overs ran out.
In Division Three, James Styles (140) and Oliver Hallion (109) posted first innings centuries for leaders Barnards Green 2nd XI at the Kings School to help set up a maximum point winning draw against Old Vigornians 1st XI who are now seventeen points adrift at the foot of the table.
Netherton 2nd XI were another team who were forced to settle for a winning draw after Muhammad Madni (91) helped Netherton post over three hindered in the first innings at Highbridge Road, the Black Country outfit failed to deliver the killer blow in the second innings which allowed Feckenham 1st XI to hang on for a losing draw nine wickets down well short of the victory target required.
These results in turn helped both Old Elizabethans 2nd XI to move in to second place just five points behind the leaders after beating Avoncroft 1st XI by a convincing margin and Belbroughton 1st XI who beat Himbleton 1st XI by seven wickets at Hackmans Gate Lane to move in to third place.
Elsewhere, Lye 2nd XI beat Brockhampton 2nd XI by four wickets at the Parks to move in to fifth place and Christian Mulvihill (101) top scored for Martley 1st XI in the first innings to help set up a winning draw against Stourbridge 2nd XI who battled well against some fine bowling from Owen Birchley (5-32) in the second innings.
It was status quo at the top of Division Four after left arm seamer Josh Morgan (7-18) second innings return ensured Rushwick 1st XI got the better of Romsley & Hunnington 1st XI in a low scoring match and Stourport-on-Severn 2nd XI beat West Malvern 1st XI by six wickets to ensure they kept up with the pace setters.
Elsewhere, third placed Claverley 1st XI secured a maximum point winning draw against Worcester Nomads 2nd XI after posting over three hundred in the first innings at Sandford Park, a total that proved to many for the visitors to chase as they clung on to the losing draw by finishing nine wickets down well short of the target at the close. Adnan Azam (113) fired a first innings century for Five Ways Old Edwardians 1st XI in a high scoring winning draw against Chaddesley Corbett 2nd XI for whom Chris Parkes (115) compiled a second innings century in response at Longmore.
Jacob Mathews (165) helped Bromsgrove 3rd XI post over four hundred in the first innings at the Hedges Ground which pretty much gave Harborne 4th XI the only option of batting out for a losing draw which they did by finishing eight wickets down well short of the target at the close and finally Old Hill 2nd XI posted a big total in the first innings against Coombs Wood 2nd XI to kick star their season again after a couple of indifferent weeks.
In the all Win/Lose format, Droitwich Spa 2nd XI and Hagley 2nd XI continue to be level on points at the top of Division Five after both returning wins at the weekend, Droitwich Spa 2nd XI beat Colwall 2nd XI by seven wickets at St. Peters Field and Hagley 2nd XI enjoyed a more convincing win against Eastnor 1st XI with N Jain (121 & 6-15) proving he star of the show.
The top two are eleven points clear of third placed Worcester 2nd XI who destroyed the visiting Astwood Bank 2nd XI bowling attack in their win as they struck the ball to all parts whilst posting what must be close to a league high 507/4 in the first innings thanks to an undefeated double century from Joshua Jones (254*) and (157) from S Hussain.
Elsewhere, Pershore 2nd XI kept themselves in the race with a win against Pedmore 2nd XI at the bottoms. Bewdley 2nd XI beat Barnt Green 3rd XI by five wickets at Lower Park and finally former Gloucestershire all rounder Mark Hardinges rolled back the years to take (5-15) in the first innings for Malvern 1st XI which set up a comfortable seven wicket win against Stourbridge 3rd XI at the Ramblers Ground.
A similar situation is occurring in Division Six where Tenbury Wells 1st XI and Cutnall Green 1st XI continue to share top spot after both recording their fifth wins of the season at the weekend. Tenbury Wells 1st XI beat Claverley 2nd XI by five wickets in a high scoring match at Penlu and Cutnall Green 1st XI enjoyed a three wicket win against visiting Bromyard 2nd XI for whom Chrissy Brown (101*) compiled an undefeated first innings century.
In other matches in the division, Hanley Castle & Upton 1st XI retained third position following a thirteen run win against Kempsey 1st XI at the Glebe.
Belbroughton 2nd XI posted too many in the first innings at Chester Road for Kidderminster 3rd XI to chase. Alveley 1st XI beat Halesowen 3rd XI by four wickets after a solid second innings run chase at the Recreation Ground and finally promising teenager Bryony Gilgrass (63) top scored for Old Vigornians 2nd XI to help them move off the bottom after beating Enville 2nd XI by a thirteen run margin.
Himley 3rd XI currently enjoy a twenty nine point lead at the top of Division Seven (North) after extending the gap with a nine wicket win against second placed Harborne 5th XI at Richmond Road.
Cookhill 1st XI and Halesowen 4th XI are just one point behind after the former enjoyed a five wicket win against Feckenham 2nd XI at Mill Lane and the later mirrored them against Kidderminster 4th XI after Greg Siddell (5-21) had set up the win in the first innings at Earls High School.
Elsewhere, Romsley & Hunnington 2nd XI sit a further two points back in fifth place after beating Five Ways Old Edwardians 2nd XI by six wickets at the Masshouse.
Oldswinford 2nd XI made the trip to the Hedges Ground to play Bromsgrove 4th XI and walked away with a five wicket win and finally James Dicks (6-18) helped dismiss Alvechurch & Hopwood 2nd XI well short of the victory target set by Stone 1st XI who enjoyed a win that moves them in to mid division.
Joe Buford (92) helped Harvington 1st XI post a first innings total that helped them gain their sixth win of the season against Bartestree & Lugwardine 2nd XI which maintained their position at the top of Division Seven (South). The South Worcestershire outfit now enjoy a thirty four point gap over Birlingham 1st XI who are second after beating Rushwick 2nd XI by four wickets in a game that proved tighter than it looked. Burghill, Tillington & Weobley 2nd XI are third a further three points behind after beating Worcester 3rd XI in another tight match by two wickets.
Elsewhere, Barnards Green 3rd XI lost ground after losing to Ombersley 3rd XI who continue to climb the table after a slow start to the season and Jamie Reading-Widdett (106*) scored a second innings century for Old Elizabethans 3rd XI in a five wicket win against Stourport-on-Severn 3rd XI at Neel Park.
Last week’s leaders Halesowen 5th XI were beaten by a seven wicket margin by Himley 4th XI which gave Netherton 3rd XI the opportunity to go top of Division Eight (North) which they took by beating Lye 3rd XI by six wickets at Haybridge High School.
In other matches, Khurram Mirza (152) blasted a first innings century for Pedmore 3rd XI to set up a comfortable win against Avoncroft 3rd XI.
Enville 3rd XI beat Oldswinford 3rd XI by fifteen runs and Harborne 6th XI were dismissed cheaply in the first innings by Stourbridge 4th XI who won by eight wickets.
In Division Eight (East) Paris Ali Arif (64) top scored alongside three other half centurions to help leaders Pershore 3rd XI beat Hagley 3rd by a wide margin.
Luke Cooper (84) helped second placed Droitwich Spa 4th X to a twelve run win against Astwood Bank 3rd XI (for whom Andy Alexander (109) scored a second innings century. Jack Turner (76*) led third placed Inkberrow 1st XI to a comfortable win against visitors Old Halesonians 1st XI.
Himbleton 2nd XI scored over three hundred in the first innings which proved too many for Belbroughton 3rd XI to chase and finally, Dan Protherough (54) led Redditch Entaco 3rd XI to a nine wicket win against Avoncroft 2nd XI.
Ledbury 1st XI chased down Brockhampton 3rd XIs challenging first innings total at the Stables to record a four wicket win which kept them at the summit of Division Eight (South), seventeen points ahead of Bosbury 1st XI who posted their fourth win of the season when they beat Eastnor 2nd XI by ninety three runs at Clenchers Mil Lane.
Elsewhere in the division, West Malvern 2nd XI beat Bromyard 3rd XI by four wickets at Mahon Court, Malvern 2nd XI chased down Worcester Nomads 3rd XIs challenging total to win by four wickets at the Cinderella Ground and finally Bredon 2nd XI registered their first win of the season when they beat Colwall by 8 wickets at Westmancote.
In Division Eight (West) Worcester Amigos CC 1st XI and Hallow Taverners 1st XI continue to sit level on points at the top after beating Tenbury Wells 2nd XI and Chaddesley Corbett 3rd XI respectively.
Hiydiatullah Fareed (90) top scored for Old Elizabethans 4th XI who scored to many in the first innings for Droitwich Spa 3rd XI to chase. Cookley 2nd XI beat Bewdley 3rd XI by four wickets and Highley 1st XI beat Alveley 2nd XI by six wickets
Report submitted by Worcestershire County League