Chasing pack close gap in league
Four-wicket bursts from Tim Heap and Shafiq Ahmed fired Himley to victory over leaders Knowle and Dorridge as the chasing pack closed the gap in the Birmingham League Premier Division.
Heap took 4-66 and Ahmed 4-52, as Himley claimed an 11-run victory after Nitesh Patel's 77 had laid the foundations for the win.
The victory gave Himley 24 points and moved them into mid-table, while defeat for K & D allowed Kenilworth Wardens and Kidderminster to close in on the leaders.
Patel top-scored for Himley, with Michael Hill on 66 also making useful runs as last year's runners-up posted 230-9 batting first.
Opening bowler Heap then blew away the K & D top order, claiming the wickets of four of the leaders' top six.
Off-spinner Ahmed cleaned up the middle and lower order as K&D were dismissed for 219 with an over to spare.
Three wickets and a half-century from James Ralph inspired third-placed Kidderminster to a five-wicket win, that moved them to within 20 points of the leaders and four of second-placed Kenilworth Wardens.
Ralph's 3-33 and 3-53 from Mark Mansell helped Kidderminster restrict Shrewsbury to 208, despite 101 from Ryan Bishop.
Opener Craig Wood then top-scored with 87 for Kidderminster as they hit 211-5 in reply ,with Ralph (58) and Neil Pinner (48) making useful contributions.
Five wickets from Jack Snape secured a 99-run win for fourth-placed Wolverhampton over bottom club Bromsgrove.
Snape's 5-29 led the way while Chris Russell claimed 3-39 and Anish Kapil 2-25, as Bromsgrove were dismissed for 130.
Earlier Chris Brook had top scored with 66 in Wolverhampton's 229-4 – a total that also included 33 from Dave Manning, 38 not out from Kapil, 33 not out from captain Simon Lycett and 31 from Richard Howitt.
Reigning champions Walsall suffered a three-wicket reverse at home to Barnt Green.
Walsall rattled up an impressive 257-7, thanks to 74 from former Warwickshire man Mo Sheikh and an unbeaten half century from Jack Shantry.
But that total proved within Barnt Green's reach in a tense finish.
An unbeaten century from Danny Shilvock saw the Worcestershire side home with a ball to spare.
In division one, Old Hill climbed into the top three following a three-wicket win against Attock.
Chasing 228 for victory, Dan Wood (93) and Richard Jones (53 not out) steered Old Hill home.
Smethwick stay second after a convincing 105-run success over Dorridge, while West Bromwich Dartmouth claimed a winning draw against Shifnal.
Karl Quiney struck a century as Wombourne piled up 302 on their way to a second division win over Water Orton.
In division three, new-boys Milford Hall continued their solid start to the season with a seven-wicket success against Olton and West Warwick.
