The fourth week of Win/Lose/Draw cricket in the top five divisions produced a full programme across the County as intermittent showers threatened in some parts but eventually relented to allow all matches to reach conclusion.

In the Premier Division the early season poor weather and the inconsistent form shown so far by teams at the top of the table seems to be producing a very healthy competition as for the third week in a row we find ourselves with a new leader as last weeks top dogs Pershore 1st XI slipped up at home when they were forced to bat it out for a losing draw against visiting Astwood Bank 1st XI at the Bottoms.

Old Hill 1st XI were the team to prosper the most as their pace attack (led by Aamir Manzoor – 5-45) dismantled Brockhampton 1st XI in the second innings at the Parks to earn a maximum points win which was good enough to take them back to the summit, three points ahead of Stourbridge 1st XI who bowled out Chaddesley Corbett 1st XI cheaply in the first innings to set up a comfortable nine wicket win at Longmore.

Astwood Bank 1st XIs win sees them climb in to third place, ten points behind second and two points ahead of Pershore 1st XI who slipped three places to fourth. Last years Champions Stourport-on-Severn 1st XI retuned to form after a shaky period with a comfortable seven wicket win against Bromyard 1st XI at Walshes Farm Meadows, a result that leaves them twenty two points off the top of the table and under lined not to right them off just yet as they are back in contention with just over half of the campaign left.

Elsewhere, Old Elizabethans 1st XI missed the chance to go third as they were beaten at home by Worcester Nomads 1st XI for whom overseas amateur Maxwell Meyer (84) showed his class in an important win for the Nomads which lifted them out of the relegation zone, and finally another overseas amateur Matthew Van Dyk (113) helped Redditch 1st XI post a first innings score that proved too many for Droitwich Spa 1st XI to chase in another important win at the lower end of the table despite the best efforts of Martyn Davies (5-53) who returned excellent first innings figures for the visitors in the first innings.

The status quo remained at the top of Division One as Lye 1st XI produced an excellent away performance against Ombersley 2nd XI to cement their position at the top of the table after posting a first innings score that proved far too many for Ombersley 2nd XI to chase and earned a maximum point victory which kept the Black Country outfit seven points clear of local rivals Pedmore 1st XI for whom overseas amateur Harrison Barnes (84) top scored in the second innings to help chase down Halesowen 2nd XIs challenging first innings total (265-7) and record a three wicket win, their second maximum points win in four matches.

Ombersley 2nd XI lost ground but retained third place in the table as Burghill, Tillington & Weobley 1st XI missed the opportunity to move up a notch after being bowled out by the fast improving Worcester 1st XI at Norton Barracks, Jabran Khalid (5-31) being the main pretender for the hosts in the second innings who also had teenager Finn Goodman (65) to thank for rescuing the first innings with an excellent half century which enabled the home team to post what proved to be a winning target after a shaky start.

In other matches in the division, Javon Grosvenor (108*) blasted an unbeaten first innings century in forty four balls for Hagley 1st XI who had to settle for a winning draw against a battling Coombs Wood 1st XI at Hagley Hall who batted well in the second innings to secure a losing draw. Nick Wilkinson (75) helped Bewdley 1st XI grab an important win against Colwall 1st XI which helped them pull further clear of the relegation zone that currently includes Bromsgrove 2nd XI who beat Barnt Green 2nd XI by six wickets at St. Godwalds Park thanks to excellent second innings contributions from Greg Chinn (83) and Matthew Russell (56).

In Division Two Alvechurch & Hopwood 1st XI continue to lead the way after Ben Dunn (5-25) took five first innings wickets and Johangir Khan (85*) finished unbeaten in the second innings to help post a seven wicket victory against Enville 1st XI. Second placed Bartestree & Lugwardine 1st XI remain just two points adrift following an excellent home performance which produced a comfortable win against Redditch 2nd XI in which both Andy Rogers (76) and Ryan Trattell (4-21) proved to be the main protagonists.

Elsewhere in the division, third placed Himley 2nd XI lost ground as they were forced to bat out a losing draw against Astwood Bank 2nd XI who had posted over three hundred in the first innings and fourth placed Netherton 1st XI also took a back step as they were beaten by two wickets by Kidderminster 2nd XI for whom Lee Ashton (7-33) returned excellent first innings figures at Highbridge Road.

At the lower end of the table, Oldswinford 1st XI recorded an important two wicket win against Cookley 1st XI and Harborne 3rd XI beat Bredon 1st XI by five wickets at the Knotts Ground to leap-frog their opponents in to tenth position, out if the relegation zone.

In Division Three, Barnards Green 2nd XI remain top after posting an eight wicket victory against Martley 1st XI at North End Lane, second placed Old Elizabethans 2nd XI made the trip to the War Memorial Ground and walked away with a seven wicket victory against Stourbridge 2nd XI thanks to unbeaten second innings half centuries from Chris Pearman (74*) and Alex Bastable (71*) and third placed Belbroughton 1st XI also recorded a victory but were made to work much harder for it as they managed to scramble themselves over the line by just one wicket against fifth placed Netherton 2nd XI for whom Arslan Iqbal (103) had posted a first innings century.

In other matches in the division, fourth placed Lye 2nd XI suffered a seven wicket defeat at the hands of Avoncroft 2nd XI, Brockhampton 2nd XI secured a crucial one wicket win in a high scoring match against Himbleton 1st XI and Feckenham 1st XI beat Old Vigornians 1st XI by two wickets at the Kings School which leaves the home team thirty points adrift of safety at the bottom and in need of s serious upturn in form.

In Division Four Rushwick 1st XI remain top of the charts after recording a four wicket home win against visiting Five Ways Old Edwardians 1st XI. Ryan Delo (185) blasted a first innings century for second placed Stourport-on-Severn 2nd XI in their maximum points win against Coombs Wood 2nd XI which pulled them to within fifteen points of the leaders and retained the twenty seven point gap to third place which is occupied by West Malvern 1st XI who recorded a maximum point win of their own by beating Harborne 4th XI by eight wickets thanks largely to Charles Bevans (82) second innings contribution.

Elsewhere in the division, Cameron Blakey (107) helped keep fourth placed Worcester Nomads 2nd XI in the hunt but the South Worcestershire outfit were left frustrated as they had to settle for a winning draw as visiting Chaddesley Corbett 2nd XI managed to hold on for dear life, nine wickets down when the overs ran out at Whitegates Farm. Old Hill 2nd XI moved up to fifth and leap frogged their opponents when they bowled out Claverley 1st XI in the second innings to gain a maximum points win and finally Romsley & Hunnington 1st XI moved ahead of Bromsgrove 3rd XI after recording a five wicket victory at the Hedges Ground.

In the Win/Lose divisions in Division Five Droitwich Soa 2nd XI who beat third placed Worcester 2nd XI by thirty two runs went top of the table, fifteen points clear of Hagley 2nd XI who suffered a defeat at the hands of Astwood Bank 3rd XI who moved themselves in to mid division. Pershore 2nd XI remain in fourth having lost ground with a defeat to Eastnor 1st XI for whom Luke Ledbury (80) and Dan Herbert (77*) posted second innings half centuries in a successful run chase and Bewdley 2nd XI kept themselves in the hunt by beating Colwall 2nd XI by six wickets in a match where thirteen year old Austin Ball (79*) stamped his authority in the second innings.

In Division Six, Hanley Castle & Upton 1st XI secured an important win in the top of the table clash against Cutnall Green 1st XI, a result that helped them leap-frog both their opposition and former second placed outfit Tenbury Wells 1st XI who also had a bad day after gaining just one point from their game against fifth Bromyard 2nd XI who dismissed them for fifty eight runs in the first innings. Belbroughton 2nd XI kept themselves in contention with an easy win against Old Vigornians 2nd XI who remain in the relegation zone and fifth placed Halesowen 3rd XI complete the top half after beating Kidderminster 3rd XI thanks largely to Alexander Jordan (96) who missed out on scoring a first innings century by just four runs.

In the Regional Division Seven divisions, in the North Group the top two Himley 3rd XI who beat Cookhill CC 1st XI (who slipped to three places to seventh) by four wickets despite the best efforts of Pete Alexander (100*) who compiled an undefeated century for the visitors in the first innings and Halesowen 4th XI who recorded a comfortable win against Five Ways Old Edwardians 2nd XI pulled clear of third placed Harborne 5th XI who suffered a four wicket defeat at the hands of Alvechurch & Hopwood 2nd XI.

Matt Whittlestone (83*) led fourth placed Romsley & Hunnington 2nd XI to a seven wicket victory against Bromsgrove 4th XI. Stone 1st XI are just one point further back after Kiefer Hanman (129) helped them post too many for Kidderminster 4th XI to chase at Winterfold School and Oldswinford 2nd XI occupy mid division just two points further back after they beat Feckenham 2nd XI by a wide margin at home. All of the top seven are still in the hunt in what is proving to be a competitive division.

In the South Group Harvington 1st XI retained their undefeated record with a six wicket win against Stourport-on-Severn 3rd XI despite the best efforts of Lawrence Neill (116) who scored a first innings century for Stourport. Alex Clasen (139) made sure the Birlingham 1st XI total was too big for Old Elizabethans 3rd XI to chase to enable them to maintain their second placed position. Barnards Green 3rd XI stay in third after chasing down Martley 2nd XIs big first innings total (269-8 – Stuart Hayes 91) for the loss of just three wickets thanks to excellent contributions from Leon Everett (88) and Christopher Hill (77). Burghill, Tillington & Weobley 2nd XI who beat sixth placed Rushwick 2nd XI and Ombersley 3rd XI who beat Bartestree & Lugwardine 2nd XI sit in fourth and fifth respectively..

In the Regional Division Eight Groups where the top two teams qualify for the Play Offs, in the North Group Halesowen 5th XI and Himley 4th XI are locked together, level on points at the top after recording wins against Enville 3rd XI and Stourbridge 4th XI respectively. The two other teams that are in immediate touch are Pedmore 3rd XI and Netherton 3rd XI who both sit twelve points adrift after Pedmore 3rd XI came out on top by three wickets in their clash in Saturday at Longmore (Pitch 2).

In the East Group, Pershore 3rd XI continue to lead the way after recording their sixth success of the season against Himbleton 2nd XI who dropped to fourth place behind second placed Droitwich Spa 4th XI who beat Belbroughton 3rd XI by a wide margin thanks to first innings half centuries from Harry Staley (55) and Ellie Roberts (51) and third placed Avoncroft 2nd XI who lost ground by losing to Old Halesonians for whom Steve Treadwell (158) smashed a first innings century.

Ledbury 1st XI remain the team to catch in the South Group after they posted their seventh win of an unbeaten season so far by eight wickets against Bromyard 3rd XI. Brockhampton 3rd XI pulled themselves in to second position level on points with Bosbury 1st XI after Robin Holgate (145) posted a first innings century which helped his team set too many for Colwall 3rd XI to chase in the second innings at Ghost Meadow and John Owens (6-31) took six second innings wickets against Bosbury 1st XI to secure the win in a low scoring game for West Malvern 2nd XI at the Bosbury Oval. These three are now fifteen points clear of Eastnor 2nd XI who are fourth after Matt Graff (100*) steered them to a three wicket win against Malvern 2nd XI at the Ramblers Ground.

Hallow Taverners 1st XI went top of the West Group after Andy Aldis (91*) help them post a first innings total that proved out of reach for Highley 1st XI and Worcester Amigos 1st XI were beaten for the first time this season by just four runs against Old Elizabethans 4th XI at Neel Park. Droitwich Spa 3rd XI kept themselves in the hunt by beating Chaddesley Corbett 3rd XI by seven wickets to remain twelve points back in third and the other team with three figures in the group are Bewdley 3rd XI who beat Alveley 2nd XI by eight wickets.

In the Marches League Division One the top three teams all posted victories to pull seventeen points clear of Builth Wells 1st XI in fourth.

Leaders Wormelow 1st XI beat Garnons 1st XI by four wickets at home thanks to an undefeated second innings half century from James Snow (68*). Just four points adrift are Goodrich 1st XI who beat Builth Wells 1st XI by a comfortable margin and a further fourteen points adrift in third places lie Canon Frome 1st XI who beat Almeley 1st XI at home by forty nine runs.

Elsewhere, Dom Larkin (119*) posted an undefeated first innings century in a comprehensive win for Woolhope 1st XI against visiting Luctonians 1st XI and Richard Lerego (81) helped Fownhope Strollers 1st XI post too many for Ross-on-Wye 1st XI to chase in a fourteen run win away from home despite the best efforts of Angus McIntyre (88*) for the home side.

Kington 1st XI continue to lead the way in Marches Division Two after posting their seventh win of a so far undefeated season against Presteigne 1st XI who slipped to fourth place behind Wormelow 2nd XI who beat Knighton-on-Teme 1st XI in a close encounter by just one wicket and Dales 1st XI who were gifted a win by Almeley 2nd XI who conceded.

In other matches in the division, Eurig Towns (5-22) took five first innings wickets in Builth Wells 2nd XIs two wicket win against Woolhope 2nd XI and Luke Bowen (126) struck a second innings century to help Hay-on-Wye 1st XI beat Fownhope Strollers 2nd XI by six wickets.

In Marches Division Three Kington 2nd XI who had a free week as there are nine in the division were joined at the top of the table by Moccas 1st XI for whom Sam Charles (132*) struck an undefeated century in a sixty run win against Luctonians 2nd XI. Burghill, Tillington & Weobley 3rd XI are twelve points behind in third place following their eight wicket win against Ross -on-Wye 2nd XI on Sunday in which Sebastian Cargill 83* posted the high score of the match for the victors. Fourth placed Bartestree & Lugwardine 3rd XI enjoyed a comfortable win against Herefordians 1st XI which increased the gap to fifth place and Dales 2nd XI beat Fownhope Strollers 2nd XI by six wicket in a low scoring game.

Old Hill 3rd XI beat Pedmore 4th XI by three wickets in a low scoring match to go top of Division Nine (North Group) as second placed Coombs Wood 3rd XI were forced to concede their match against Redditch Entaco 4th XI, whilst in the other match played in the group Cookhill 2nd XI beat Five Ways Old Edwardians 3rd XI by nine wickets to go third with two matches in hand over the leaders.

In the Division Nine (South Group) Harvington 2nd XI and Pershore 4th XI share top spot after gaining wins in differing styles. Harvington 2nd XI beat Ledbury 2nd XI by five wickets and Pershore 4th XI received a concession win as Brockhampton 4th XI failed to raise a team.

In other matches played in the division, fourth placed Droitwich Spa 5th XI who sit one point behind third posted to many for Malvern 3rd XI to chase in the second innings. Richard Bull (138) supported by half centuries from Tate Ellison (65) and fourteen year old Jack Tolley (53) ensured Rushwick 3rd XI made it two wins in two matches by beating Hanley Castle & Upton 2nd XI by a wide margin and finally Barnards Green 4th XI received a concession win when Feckenham 3rd XI failed to raise a team.

Report submitted by Worcestershire County League