IN Division One 1st XI Ghulam Moyhuddin’s 4-26 restricted bottom club Droitwich to a modest first innings total of 191 and then in form Russell Southwick posted 72 to help Redditch cruise to a comfortable five wicket victory, which saw Redditch storm to the top of the table after last week’s leaders Worcester, were humbled at the Gordon Jones Memorial ground.

A solid first innings batting performance (led by James Abell who remained undefeated on 66) helped Colwall post a target of 215 which, thanks to a fine spell of bowling from Daniel Newby, proved too much for the former table toppers.

Third and fourth placed clubs Cookley and Bewdley both won to ensure a gap of 20 points now separates the top four from the rest.

Jaimen Rudd’s 77 led Cookley to a tight two wicket victory at Stourport whilst Jack Mills again proved the hero for Bewdley, taking 4-26 as they dismissed fifth placed Hagley for 163 to secure an important 21 runs win.

In other matches, Feckenham dropped off the leading pack as they lost at Pedmore. Having posted the division's highest score of the day (234) their bowlers struggled to contain the Pedmore top order (led by Jack Patchett 61) as they secured victory by four wickets in the penultimate over and Eastnor re-fuelled their fight against relegation by beating Burghill by 51 runs. Division Two 1st XI Jamie Woodhouse (5-18) ensured Belbroughton stay in the running for the title as they dismissed leaders Bredon for a meagre 72 at Hackmans Gate Lane, blowing the title race wide open again, as both second and third placed Evesham and Chaddesley Corbett secured comfortable wins against Oldswinford and Coombs Wood respectively. Thirteen points now separate the top three teams.

Lye, who were frustrated by the weather last week, returned to winning ways as Saeed Mahmood (5-29) led the way to victory over fifth placed Enville who now look out of the running.

Old Vigornians, thanks to Dave Haddock’s 5-20 defeated bottom of the table Harbourne by 31 runs and in the battle of two Herefordshire clubs, Wormelow climbed further away from the relegation zone, as Findlay Williams took 4-9 to help dismiss mid table Bromyard for 75 to secure local bragging rights. In Division Three 1st XIs, the top five clubs all won, which meant no real change at the top of the table.

Kempsey remain top after another excellent undefeated century from the in-form Zak O’Neill (104*) secured a nine wicket victory for the leaders who remain eight points clear of Himbleton who travelled to the ACG and came away with a well-earned four wicket win over Alvechurch.

The top two are now fifty and forty-two points ahead of third placed Netherton who kept themselves in with an outside chance of promotion thanks to a fine 116* from Troy Lee which ensured they chased down Five Ways OE’s impressive first innings divisional high total of 281.

Fourth placed Bartestree posted victory against Astwood Bank. Avoncroft restricted bottom of the table Himley to 185, thanks to Paul Atheys 4-26, which Alex Brunt ensured was never enough as he smashed a magnificent 130 in reply.

Rushwick were the other winners on the day as Paul Wyatt, after riding his luck early on, went on to finish undefeated on 82 to secure a comfortable win against Martley who remain in the relegation zone. In Division Four 1st XIs Tenbury, thanks to Hanley Castle & Upton’s defeat on the road at Halesowen, climbed back to second position as Tom Rawlings (85) ensured they posted a first innings total that thanks to Aaron Morris (4-15) proved far too many for Claverley to chase.

However, Bromsgrove remain top after another impressive eight wicket win at Alveley, Alistair Hickman 73* and David Collins 57* ensured Alveley never really got into the game.

In other matches Stourport gave eight man Hallow the run around as they posted a huge first innings total of 376-5 at the New Elizabethan School. Sam Hayes (152) and Mark Moss (150) showing no mercy as the home side cruised to a 285 run victory.

West Malvern pulled level on points with third placed Hanley Castle & Upton as Will Jones (82) secured a comfortable five wicket victory over Old Elizabethans after Peter O’Connell (5-32) had reduced the visitors to 140 all out and Kidderminster remain in mid table following a 70 run victory over bottom club Worcester, James Williams scoring 87 for Kidderminster. In Division Five 1st XIs, leaders Barnt Green returned to winning ways at Oldswinford and maintained their 28 point lead over second placed Stourbridge, who beat Pershore thanks to a fine 74 from Alexander Colman.

Old Hill kept themselves in the race for promotion after defeating Droitwich in a tight game by 11 runs but the gap to the rest may prove too much now as 4th placed Romsley went down away at Redditch for whom Stefan Jagielski scored 59 and Mohammad Zahid took 4-17 in their 30 run win.

In the other game in the division Harborne secured a comfortable nine wicket victory. Louis Graham 4-19 helped dismiss bottom of the table Enville for 153 before Iqbal Kasana 62 and Will Clarke 55 not out steered them home.