Electrifying title race as top two level on points - Birmingham League round-up

Smethwick just edge top spot as the new leaders with the sides locked together on 224 points after they claimed a maximum 24 points from a four-wicket home success over basement boys Berkswell.

Halesowen were pipped into first having themselves pocketed 20 points in a five-wicket triumph at Moseley.

Knowle & Dorridge, who won away, are just seven points further adrift in a thrilling three-way race for the title, with Barnt Green and Shrewsbury on the fringes too.

New leaders Smethwick were inspired by the batting of Bilal Shafayat, whose unbeaten century did the damage.

The hosts put Berkswell in to bat and opener Amir Khan stuck around for almost three hours on his way to 85 but support lower down the order was minimal with the visitors 227 all out.

Tazeem Chaudry Ali shone with the ball for the hosts with 4-47. Kadeer Ali and Gurbaj Singh claimed two wickets apiece.

Shafayat, at four, helped overcome a shaky start on his way to 103 not out, with support later on from Viken Kedariya (35).

Former Worcestershire ace Matt Pardoe snared 5-72 as visitors Halesowen overhauled Moseley's 220-9 in the nick of time.

Pardoe's fifer included the wicket of Hishaam Khan, who was the home side's only resistance with 93. 

Halesowen lost the wickets of openers Pardoe (31) and Hasan Mahmood (22) swiftly but a fifth-wicket partnership of 116 between Chris Whittock and Luke Tulacz steered their side to victory.

The latter was still around on 69 when victory was secured in the penultimate over.

Elsewhere in the top flight Wolverhampton bagged the bulk of the spoils in a Black Country derby draw at home to Himley as the two sides directly above the drop zone collected points.

Wolves elected to bat and were inspired by a third-wicket stand of 155 between Hamza Zubayr (98) and skipper Joe Stanley (68) on their way to 289-7 from their 55 overs.

The visitors dug in for 166-8 and held on for the draw. The hosts' Reeve Evitts (3-34) impressed, as did Asad Ullah with 2-20.

In Premier Two, third-placed Stourbridge lost significant ground on the top two with a limp home defeat to lowly Kidderminster.

The 124-run success lifted the visitors up above Coventry & North Warwickshire and out of the bottom two.

Kiddy's haul of 237-8 was far too much for the home side as bowling from Liam Weston (3-47, including Stour's top three) and Ben Clements (3-33) proved too hot to handle and Stourbridge fell well short on 113 all out.

Coventry & North Warks dropped into the bottom two below Kidderminster after an eight-wicket mauling at West Bromwich Dartmouth, who climbed to fifth.

The visitors were all out for 196 with three wickets each for Aaron Patel and Davesh Singh.

Dartmouth were comfortable throughout and lost just two wickets in the chase with opener and skipper Dannyjo Cox unbeaten on 57 and Ismail Mohammed, at three, firing 84 via 15 boundaries. Tim Maxfield plunged a six to win it.

Old Hill were beaten at home by 96 runs at the hands of leaders Kenilworth Wardens.

The pace-setters were all out for 294 (wicketkeeper Oliver Dandy 137 off 139 balls), and the hosts fell short in a determined effort with opener Hasan Ahmed top scoring with 60 off just 31 deliveries.

Others struggled to take inspiration, though, and Old Hill looked short throughout.