Smethwick so close to Promotion
If Smethwick win two of their last three games, they will be promoted from Birmingham & District League Division One, but any one of five teams could still accompany them as the season draws to an exciting climax.
Smethwick easily disposed of Walmley, thanks to the efforts of Gurinder Singh (4-14), Mo Sheikh (3-32) and Amrinder Brar (71no).
Himley are among the sides that could join them in the top flight next season – they are 20 points behind second-placed Moseley – after a four-wicket win over Shifnal.
Nipun Karunanayake took 4-29 before a gritty 54 from Dan Durman.
Kidderminster remain in the Premier Division relegation zone, but Walsall were not able to pull away from them – both scoring just four points in defeats to Knowle & Dorridge and Shrewsbury, respectively.
Table-toppers Knowle & Dorridge maintained their 13-point lead after racking up 351-2 against Kidder, who made a brave attempt to chase down such a daunting target, finishing on 306-9.
K&D’s George Worker took his total of league runs to 1,300 for the season in 13 innings, with a superb unbeaten 192, including 19 fours and 7 sixes.
The Kidderminster innings featured a stand of 177 for the second wicket between Neil Pinner (124) and Matt Pardoe (78).
Shrewsbury posted 275-5 at Walsall with Paul Wicker taking 3-31 for the home side, who only made it to 171 all out thanks to a blistering 71 from 45 balls from Ed Denham.
Aneesh Kapil hit a glorious 128 from 124 balls for Wolverhampton at Barnt Green but the home side chased down Wolverhampton’s total of 244-9 in 28 overs.
West Bromwich Dartmouth clinched a 25-run victory at Ombersley after dismissing the home side for 141. Shozair Ali (48) and Liam Banks (46) were the highest scorers for Dartmouth, while Ali also finished with 3-31.
