Danny Pennell set to sit out the title run-in

Pennell missed last Saturday’s crushing nine-wicket success against Walsall YPF after breaking his thumb during a charity game.

And now he faces the prospect of missing his side’s final three games of the season which include a crunch clash with second-placed Cannock.

“I am hoping I can play again this season but it doesn’t look too good at the moment,” said Pennell.

“I may have to settle for watching from the sidelines which is frustrating, but winning the title is the main thing.”

All-rounder Todd Henderson has stepped into the lead role and started his tenure with a maximum point return against relegation-threatened Walsall YPF, which left Pelsall 34 points clear at the top.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Walsall were shot out for just 106.

Opener Mohammed Akib top-scored with 28 but the rest of the visiting batsmen failed to cope with Pelsall’s impressive bowling attack.

Seamer Dan Wale continued his fine season by claiming 4-27 while spinner Ryan Brown returned the same figures. Henderson took the other two wickets.

In reply, opener Tom Boyd and Jake Lee saw Pelsall home inside 14 overs with Boyd ending unbeaten on 62 and Lee 43 not out.

Pelsall travel to bottom-placed Swindon on Saturday with Pennell looking to maintain their healthy advantage over Cannock before the sides meet the following weekend.

“Swindon can be a tricky place to go but we would like to think we can pick up another win to set us up for the Cannock game,” said Pennell.

“Cannock have been on a good run but they need to keep winning. We are just looking at the game in front of us.

“The lads got the job done on Saturday and now it’s on to the next one.”

Cannock will be keen to keep the pressure on the leaders with victory over Aldridge this weekend.

They are the form team in the division at the moment having reeled off six straight victories, the latest of which saw them ruthlessly brush aside Springvale.

Matt Cottrell and opener Adam Benton were the main contributors with the bat as Cannock made 231-9.

Benton took his run tally for the season to 840 with 46 while Cottrell made 87.

Erun Ranu picked up 4-19 while David Geran took 3-59.

Cannock’s opening bowlers Elliott Horton and Ryan Elliott then hit their straps to blow away Springvale.

The duo claimed nine wickets between them.

Whittington made it four wins in their last five outings with a 58-run success against Rugeley.

Big-hitting Australian Lachlan O’Connor flexed his muscles to blast 84 from 47 balls, including nine fours and six sixes, as Whittington posted 222.

Euan Hammond (35) and Sam Leech (31) offered support with the bat while Muhammed Sultan and Ali Fawcett bagged three wickets each.

Fawcett then hit 46 but after being handily-placed at 81-2, Rugeley lost their last eight wickets for 83.

Chris Hilyer took the bowling honours with 3-34, while there were two wickets each for Jono Allcock, Daniel Wilks and O’Connor.

Wednesbury will go into this weekend’s clash with Springvale 35 points above the drop zone after digging in for a losing draw against Hammerwich.

Craig Jennings struck 93 at the top of the order as Hammerwich piled up 271-5 with John Jennings (51 not out) and Ben Traat (41) also impressing. Danny King was the pick of the Wednesbury attack with 3-51 from 15 overs.

Abdul Salmon then hit 65 from 58 balls to get Wednesbury’s reply off to a flying start while fellow opener King chipped in with 49.

The Jennings brothers then checked the visitors progress with two wickets apiece with Wednesbury ending on 217-6 with Kulveer Singh Badhan 66 not out.

Penn’s faint title hopes were ended by a disappointing defeat at Beacon.

The bowlers were on top throughout in a low-scoring game that produced just 235 runs.

Penn would have fancied their chances of victory after rolling over their hosts for just 121.

Beacon had been well set on 111-3 with James Fildes making 42 and Jason Swan 34, but lost their seven wickets for just 10 runs.

Dan Smith picked up 4-46 for Penn with Matthew Ansell (3-19) and skipper Mark Green (3-6) instigating the collapse.

But that total proved enough as the Penn batters failed to come to terms with Swan and fellow South African Jarrod Alberts.

Seamer Swan took the first five wickets on his way to figures of 6-43 while spinner Alberts claimed 3-35 as the Mount Road men fell for 114.

Swindon’s relegation was all but confirmed by a 268-run defeat at the hands of Aldridge.

Matthew Westwood struck a fine century and Omair Farooq made 92 to help Aldridge to 247-7.

Nasir Ali Khan then led the victory charge with the ball, picking up 4-10 as Swindon succumbed for 70.

Afzal Hussain (3-23) and William Steadman (2-22) were also among the wickets.