Knowle and Dorridge 253-6 (13pts)
Barnt Green 115-4 (4pts)
Match drawn

BARNT Green were forced to settle for a winning draw at Knowle and Dorridge on Saturday, but it was enough for them to hold on to top spot in the Birmingham and District Premier Division.

Dougie Brown's men were up against it from the start, having been forced to head into the game with just three bowlers.

To make matters worse, Gavin Shephard pulled up with a side injury in only his third over, meaning Brown and off-spinner Phil Mann were forced to share the majority of the bowling.

Brown and Shephard had given the Cherry Hill Road outfit an early foothold in the game, with the former removing Sam Reddish for 12 and the latter clean bowling Nick Warren for six.

But Knowle began to rebuild, through Tony Frost (55), who was eventually out LBW to Brown, and Travis Friend, who went on to make 73 not out.

He was well supported by Spencer Platt (31 not out), as Knowle managed a competitive total, bearing in mind the unpredictable conditions.

Brown finished with figures of 3-117 from 27 overs, while Mann took 2-97 from his 18 overs.

Openers Richard Hall and Nathan Newport tried to get Green off to a flying start in their reply, but Hall was sent back to the pavilion having made just five.

He was caught by Platt off the bowling of Elliot Wilson.

Newport offered plenty of resistence to the home side's bowling, making 45 before eventually being dismissed.

Shephard added just 10 and Brown three as Knowle looked to take control.

It was left to Dai Williams to steady the ship and he was unbeaten on 20 when play was halted because of the weather.

In the Division One top of the table clash at St. Godwalds Park, Bromsgrove won the toss against Old Hill and chose to bat first.

The Boars were looking comfortable, reaching 142-2, thanks to solid performances with the bat from Jayden Levitt (60) and Duncan Roke (48).

However, Australian Chris Hansberry was introduced into the attack and he ripped through the batting order with a brilliant spell of spin bowling.

Hansberry claimed the scalps of Levitt, Roke, captain Mark Evenson, Will Lake, Tom Hill and Asif Ali on his way to figures of 7-33, as the home side were reduced to 167 all out.

With the threat of rain never far away, Old Hill made a steady start, thanks to a strong partnership between Libran Khan (61) and Nathan Round (49).

Bromsgrove's Pakistani spin sensation Dilawar Khan Orakzai rallied with the ball once again, removing the dangermen as well as openers Hansberry and Paul Lazenbury.

He was the Boars' only wicket taker, finishing with figures of 4-73 from, his 26 overs.

Old Hill went on to win the match by six wickets, with four overs.

In doing so, they earned 24 points to Bromsgrove's three, which was enough to leapfrog the Boars at the top of the table at the halfway stage of the season.