Report submitted by Worcestershire County League

Zainadine Bukhari-Shah (5-26) returned excellent figures in the second innings to help lift Old Hill 1st XI to the top of the Cup Group A table with a win against Stourbridge at Haden Hill. Lye 1st XI are level on points after beating Oldswinford thanks to second innings Waqas Ahmed (63) half century which helped seal a two wicket win and Coombs Wood 1st XI got off the mark for the season with a comprehensive win against Pedmore.

In Cup Group B there are three teams who have now posted two wins out of two. Pershore 1st XI are on top thanks to another fine performance from Chris Ridings (61*) who scored an undefeated second innings half century in their win against Belbroughton 1st XI in a rain reduced match. Chaddesley Corbett 1st XI are second following a six wicket victory against Redditch Entaco 1st XI and Josh Baker (4-14) ensured Astwood Bank 1st XI kept up with the early season pace setters as they eased to victory against local rivals Feckenham 1st XI.

Old Elizabethans 1st XI are top of Cup Group C after recording their second successive victory on the road at Burghill. Jude Rees (96*) was the star of the show as his first innings effort help the visitors post a target that proved too many for the home team to chase. Worcester Nomads 1st XI are second, level on points after beating Colwall 1st XI by the narrowest of margins in a rain reduced match and Worcester jumped in to third place following a comfortable home win against Brockhampton 1st XI at Norton Barracks in another match that suffered a rain intervention.

Stourport marched to the top of Cup Group D where they are the only team with a 100% record following a four wicket victory on the road against Droitwich Spa 1st XI at St. Peter’s Field.  Bewdley lost to Ombersley 2nd XI who moved level on points with their opponents and Hagley 1st XI make up the trio of teams on twenty-five points as they beat Cookley 1st XI at Hagley Park in a rain shortened match despite Ben Nightingales (5-61) first innings effort for the visitors.

In the Trophy Competition Harry Baddams (123*) scored an undefeated first innings century against Himley 2nd XI at Wolverhampton Road to move Halesowen 2nd XI in to early pole position in Trophy Group A, Netherton 1st XI are second in the Group after chasing down Harborne 3rd XIs first innings total to win by three wickets and Daniel Suttons (91) first innings contribution helped Enville 1st XI gain their first victory of the season as they beat Old Hill 2nd XI by a comfortable margin.

Alex Robinson (71) helped Astwood Bank 2nd XI make it two wins in two matches as they beat local rivals Redditch Entaco by nine wickets to move to the top of Trophy Group B. In form Greg Chinn scored his second half century of the season in second placed Bromsgrove 2nd XIs win against Himbleton 1st XI and Dave Walters’ (113) first innings century steered Barnt Green to their first win of the season against Avoncroft 1st XI.

In Trophy Group C Barnards Green went top following a two wicket victory at Bartestree, Eastnor 1st XI are in second following their first victory of the season, a four wicket triumph over Kempsey 1st XI at Plovers Rise and Bredon 1st XI are third despite losing to Brockhampton 2nd XI in a rain reduced match at the Parks.

Old Vigornians 1st XI are top the table after fighting back to beat Rushwick 1st XI by four wickets after an early order second innings collapse at the Cinderella Ground in Trophy Group D, Kidderminster 2nd XI are positioned in second place after their match at third placed Martley ended in a tie in a match reduced to thirty five overs each and in the other match Andy Fletcher (4-51) ensured Worcester 2nd XI picked up their first victory of the season against City rivals Old Elizabethans 2nd XI at the Memorial Ground.

In the Vase Competition Romsley & Hunnington 1st XI are top of Group A after Charlie Tromans (101) second innings century helped them overhaul Halesowen 3rd XIs first innings total for the loss of six wickets. Netherton 2nd XI are second after beating third placed local rivals Lye 2nd XI to gain their second win in two and in the other match in the group Coombs Wood 2nd XI beat Harborne 4th XI by two wickets at the Home Ground.

Christopher Curtis (87) led Five Ways Old Edwardians 1st XI  to the summit of Vase Group B as they beat Droitwich Spa 2nd XI in a rain reduced game. Alvechurch & Hopwood maintained their push by recording their second win in two against Hagley 2nd XI and in the other match in the group Bromsgrove 3rd XI won their first game of the season by beating Astwood Bank 3rd XI by a six wicket margin at Hanbury.

West Malvern 1st XI top Vase Group C after making it two wins in two with victory against Pershore 2nd XI by six wickets in a rain reduced match. Tom Newman (141) scored an excellent first innings century to help kick start Colwall 2nd XIs season as they overwhelmed Malvern by 150 runs and Rory Mathews (72) helped Hanley Castle & Upton 1st XI secure their first win against Worcester Nomads 2nd XI at Whitegates Farm.

Tom Grainger (97*) and Aroon Iqbal (5-25) steered Claverley 1st XI to the summit of Vase Group D with a sixteen run win against Stourport 2nd XI at Walshes Meadow whilst Alveley 1st XI and Bewdley 2nd XI gained their first wins of the season against Stourbridge 2nd XI and Chaddesley Corbett 2nd XI respectively (N Billinge took 6-28 for Chaddesley).