In the Premier Division, Stourport-on-Severn 1st XI batsmen Deon Patel (83) and Craig Wood (56*) put leaders Old Hill 1st XI to the sword in the first innings at Haden Hill to help compile a first innings total that proved too many for the leaders to chase.

However second placed Stourbridge 1st XI let the leaders off the hook yet again as they could not take advantage of this result as they were beaten at the War Memorial Ground by Pershore 1st XI despite the best efforts of Maverick Perry (82*) who proved to be the only contributor of note in the first innings which ultimately led to a two wicket win for visitors.

That result mathematically keeps all teams mentioned in the hunt for the title which can be decided next week if Old Hill 1st XI beat Brockhampton 1st XI at Haden Hill as they are now twenty two points clear at the top after some indifferent form by the immediate chasing pack at the wrong time of the season has helped the leaders maintain a comfortable lead whilst not playing their best cricket.

At the bottom end of the table Old Elizabethans 1st XI are safe after beating relegated Chaddesley Corbett 1st XI in a rain reduced match at Neel Park. Redditch 1st XI beat seventh placed Bromyard 1st XI to move to within four points in eight place. Brockhampton 1st XI recorded an important win against Astwood Bank 1st XI in a rain reduced match at Sambourne which meant the real sufferers on Saturday were Worcester Nomads 1st XI who slipped down two places to tenth after losing to already relegated Droitwich Spa 1st XI at Whitegates Farm, a result that leaves them in a precarious position which could yet also become the third relegation place if the scenario occurs that Bromsgrove 1st XI are relegated from the Birmingham & District Premier Division Two (extremely likely) and our Premier Division winners fail to gain promotion through the B&DPCL Play Offs.

In Division One second placed Pedmore 1st XI (who are already guaranteed promotion to the Premier Division) lost to relegation threatened Bromsgrove 2nd XI which means that Lye 1st XI who beat Coombs Wood 1st XI in a close contest require just ten points from their last two matches to become league winners.

Elsewhere, third Ombersley 2nd XI's match with Halesowen 2nd XI fell foul to a late heavy downpour that rendered the conditions unplayable. Fourth placed Worcester 1s XI's match at Colwall was also abandoned just over halfway through the first innings whilst Hagley 1st XI won a high scoring match against Burghill, Tillington & Weobley 1st XI in which well over six hundred runs were scored including seven half centuries.

Whilst at the lower end of the table Tom O’Dell (5-18) helped secure the win for Bewdley 1st XI against basement side Barnt Green 3rd XI who will need to win both of their remaining matches if they are to stand any chance of avoiding the drop as they remain twelve points behind Bromsgrove 2nd XI and a further twelve points behind Colwall 1st XI who look vulnerable in tenth place.

The race for the title and promotion is still well and truly alive at the top of Division Two as the top three all enjoyed positive results. Leaders Bartestree & Lugwardine 1st XI retained their seven point lead with a victory against Cookley 1st XI in a rain reduced game at the Cookley Recreation Ground. Second placed Himley 2nd XI kept the pressure on by inflicting a seven wicket defeat on Netherton 1st XI after dismissing them cheaply in the first innings and Alvechurch & Hopwood 1st XI lost ground in third after their match with Astwood Bank 2nd XI ended in a tie. With two matches remaining it remains two from three at the summit with the tittle still very much up for grabs.

In other matches in the division, Bredon 1st XI continued their good form by beating Oldswinford 1st XI to move in to fourth place, Enville 1st XI beat relegated Redditch 2nd XI by seventy four runs and finally Jack Meese (5-57) helped Kidderminster 2nd XI secure the win against Harborne 3rd XI that means the South Birmingham outfit will be playing their cricket in Division Three again next season.

Barnards Green 2nd XI require just nine points from their remaining two matches to secure the Division Three title after recording another comprehensive win against Brockhampton 2nd XI.

However, the battle for the second promotion place is still very much alive after second placed Lye 1st XI beat Martley 1st XI in a rain curtailed match decided by the Duckworth/Lewis method to remain nine points ahead of third placed Belbroughton 1st XI who recorded a three wicket victory against Feckenham 1st XI.

Old Elizabethans 2nd XI kept their hopes alive when they beat Netherton 2nd XI by three wickets in a rain shorted game in which Angus Rees (4-26 & 53*) shone with both bat and ball.

In other matches in the division, Will Baker (125) struck a second innings century for Avoncroft 1st XI to secure the win against Stourbridge 2nd XI who as a result drop into the bottom two alongside Old Vigornians 1st XI who suffered a nine wicket defeat against Himbleton 1st XI which means that Division Four looms in 2024.

Division Four remains wide open with just two matches remaining. Leaders Stourport-on-Severn 2nd XI were beaten by Five Ways Old Edwardians 1st XI which means their lead at the top was reduced to nineteen points to second placed Rushwick 1st XI who took advantage of Worcester Nomads 2nd XI defeat at the hands of Romsley & Hunnington 1st XI when they bounced back in to second position after beating Chaddesley Corbett 2nd XI in a high scoring run chase that saw Jake Williams (102) crash a second innings century of just fifty four balls.

Elsewhere in the division, Old Hill 2nd XI won a high scoring rain reduced match against Harborne 4th XI at the Knotts Ground that moved them ahead of Worcester Nomads 2nd XI in to third position, five points behind Rushwick 1st XI and keeps their promotion drive alive.

Elliot Bevan (130) scored a first innings century to help West Malvern 1st XI to victory against a plucky Coombs Wood 2nd XI who chased well only to fall away at the end and finally the match between Claverley 1st XI and Bromsgrove 3rd XI was abandoned after a heavy period of rain left conditions unplayable at Sandford Park.

In Division Five the top two Droitwich Spa 2nd XI and Worcester 2nd XI both recorded victories against Astwood Bank 2nd XI and Stourbridge 3rd XI respectively that secured promotion to Division Four and with 10 points between the two teams, a lively battle will continue over the next two weeks to see who wins the battle get promoted as Division champions.

Elsewhere, Michael Atkins-Harding (5-24) took a five wicket haul for Malvern 1st XI to set up victory against Pedmore 2nd XI, Hagley 2nd XI beat Colwall 1st XI by five wickets in a rain reduced match at Hagley Park which leaves Colwall 1st XI at the foot of the table in danger of the drop.

Bewdley 2nd XI posted too many for Eastnor 1st XI to chase in the second innings which left the Herefordshire based outfit vulnerable at the lower end of the table just twenty one points above the relegation zone and last but not least Imran Wahid (114) posted a first innings century in the first innings for Pershore 2nd XI in a match that was eventually abandoned because of the rain against Barnt Green 3rd XI who are in tenth just fifteen points clear of the relegation zone .

In Division Six Tenbury Wells 1st XI lead the way despite losing to Kempsey 1st XI at Penlu. Hanley Castle & Upton 1st XI sit ten points adrift after their match against third placed Bromyard 2nd XI was abandoned with the two teams evenly poised in the first innings. Claverley 2nd XI beat Alveley 1st XI to retain fourth place but are too far behind it seems to mount a realistic challenge with just two matches remaining.

In other matches in the division, Faisal Khalid (83*) starred with the bat for Cutnall Green 1st XI in their win against Belbroughton 2nd XI. Simon Trickett (93*) helped Kidderminster 3rd XI to victory against Old Vigornians 2nd XI who will now potentially need to win both of their remaining matches to avoid relegation and Halesowen 3rd XIs match against Enville 2nd XI was abandoned halfway through the first innings which means Enville 2nd XI slipped into the relegation zone, eight points from safety

In the Regional Divisions Division Seven (North) Himley 3rd XI beat Feckenham 2nd X by ten wickets to secure the title with two matches remaining. Pete Alexander (126*) struck an undefeated century in second placed Cookhill 1st XIs win against Halesowen 4th XI, Stone 1st XI beat Romsley & Hunnington 2nd XI by nineteen runs and Five Ways Old Edwardians 2nd XI won the battle of the basement against Kidderminster 4th XI but unfortunately remain in the bottom two alongside their opponents.

Bromsgrove 4th XI gained the points they required through abandonment against Alvechurch & Hopwood 2nd XI to sit two points above the zone and finally, the match between Harborne 5th XI and Oldswinford 2nd XI was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

In Division Seven (South) champions Harvington 1st XI beat Worcester 3rd XI, Burghill, Tillington & Weobley 2nd XI stayed in second position despite having a week free from fixtures as Birlingham 1st XI lost a rain reduced match against Barnards Green 3rd XI by fifteen runs using the Duckworth/Lewis method which drew them level on points but in third position on countback.

Ombersley 3rd XI are in fourth place after securing a comfortable seven win against Old Elizabethans 3rd XI whilst in other matches Martley 2nd XI beat Rushwick 1st XI by an eight wicket margin to leave Rushwick 2nd XI in danger of the drop and finally Bartestree & Lugwardine 2nd XI won by concession against Stourport-on-Severn 3rd XI who remain in the drop zone with two matches to go.

In the Marches League Division One, A Langford (105) and D Thomas (103) both scored first innings centuries for champions Wormelow 1st XI in their final win of the season against Luctonians. Canon Frome 1st XI qualified for the Play-Offs by beating Garnons 1st XI and will face an away tie in the Quarter Finals as seen below.

In other matches in the Division there were final day wins for Ross-on-Wye 1st XI for whom A Macintyre ended the season unbeaten on (102*) and Woolhope 1st XI who finish in mid division after beating Builth Wells 1st XI by a wide margin and finally the match between Almeley 1st XI and Fownhope Strollers 1st XI was abandoned without a ball bowled.

Report submitted by Worcestershire County League