Smethwick slip further from the title picture

The visitors were in a world of trouble at 19-6, but a battling 52 from Naqaash Tahir and 30 from Sukhjit Singh rescued the 42-over rain-reduced innings to 131-9.

Himley's Jamie Turner rattled through the top order before finishing with superb figures of 6-12, and he was helped by Chris Boroughs (3-22).

Former Leicestershire batting coach and Himley captain Ben Smith then struck 50 for the victorious hosts.

Old Hill lost a thrilling low-scoring game at home to Moseley by one-wicket.

Billy Cox scored 60 for Old Hill but they only made 135 with Moseley's Usman Awan taking 5-26.

The visitors were 125-9, at one point, but won the game thanks to a last-wicket stand of 12.

In Division Two, Stourbridge defeated Harborne by five wickets to pick up their first win of the season.

Harshad Patel (44) and Matt Bradley (53 not out) eased them over the line, after the bowlers had shared the wickets around to reduce Harborne to 154-9.

Wombourne dominated their mid-table clash at Halesowen, picking up a winning draw.

The visitors made 249-7 after an opening stand of 124 from Waqas Ahmed (85) and Karl Quiney (60). Halesowen finished on 121-7.

And Mick Rogers snapped this peculiar scene at Halesowen's Seth Somers Park, when the bat flew out of Eddie Rhodes' hands and was sent spiralling into the air.

Wombourne bowler Ryan Quiney had to take evasive action when it landed, while Karl Quiney was oblivious as he went for a catch at slip.

Penkridge's victory over Oswestry leaves both sides level in 10th place. Laeq Chishti's 74 no helped Penkridge finish on 163-6 in a 33-over game.

Cannock & Rugeley Hawks' match with Tamworth was abandoned.

In Division Three, Fordhouses (254-6) stayed top with a winning draw at home to Lichfield (136-9).

Streetly closed the gap on Astwood Bank, with a five-wicket victory over the third-placed team, and Brewood were beaten easily by Handsworth.

Wolverhampton fell further behind leaders Berkswell in the Premier Division after being held to a winning draw at Ombersley.

Wasim Jaffer smacked another brilliant unbeaten innings as Wolverhampton finished on 260-6, and his score of 141 not out was his highest in the Birmingham League so far this season.

The former Indian Test opener has got past 50 in every single one of his eight innings so far and has been dismissed just once.

Despite his heroics with the bat, Ombersley managed to see out their 55 overs in order to deny Wolverhampton the win.

Recovering from 121-5 to reach 236-7 at the close of play, Oliver Uffindall top-scored with an unbeaten 73.

He was also Ombersley's best bowler, taking 3-82, while Wolverhampton's pick with the ball was Usman Arif, who took 3-58.

Wolverhampton picked up 15 points, but leaders Berkswell stretched their lead at the top after brushing Walsall aside to pick up maximum points.

Berkswell declared on 319-4 after 51 overs with Darren Maddy (126 no), Oliver Haley (94) and Tom Milnes (45no) doing most of the damage.

Walsall were then dismissed for a paltry 91. Ben Ladd-Gibbon, who top-scored with the bat making 31 and took two of Berkswell's four wickets with the ball, was the pick of their players.

But the heavy defeat leaves them dangerously close to the bottom two on 97 points.

Kidderminster beat bottom club Leamington Spa by 120 runs thanks to impressive innings from Neil Pinner (87), Jonathan Wright (72) and Matt Pardoe (55) easing them to 315-8.

Pardoe then took 4-41 with the ball to help dismiss Leamington for 195 ,Chris Russell and Gareth Williams each weighing in with a couple of wickets.

West Bromwich Dartmouth beat last year's champions Shrewsbury by one wicket at Sandwell Park, in a thrilling 34 overs per side rain-reduced match.

An opening partnership of 96 between Oliver Westbury (61) and Will Parton (54) helped Shrewsbury to 179-6, but 87 from Staffordshire captain Kadeer Ali saw Dartmouth near the finishing line.

But Shrewsbury nearly pulled off a stunning turnaround by taking three wickets for just two runs, when Dartmouth were on 175-6, to set up an incredibly tense finale.

No 11 batsman Khayam Khan wasn't fazed though, smacking a four off his first ball to win the game in stunning circumstances with just two balls to spare.