Jujhar Johal stars for the table-toppers

Johal starred with both bat and ball to help Stour secure a key victory against Redditch in the Premier Division’s match of the day.

Visiting Redditch took the bold decision to bat first at the War Memorial Ground and, despite spinner Johal taking 4-73 and seamer Dan Wale 3-59, they would have been pleased with their efforts at the halfway stage after Russell Southwick (87) and Rizwan Chaudhry (63) led them to a challenging total of 263.

But then openers Johal and the experienced Harshad Patel set about chasing down the victory target with relish.

They put on 175 before Patel fell for 73, but Johal went on to make a superb 127 as Stourbridge chased down their target with three wickets in hand and eight balls to spare.

The victory leaves Stourbridge seven points clear of Astwood Bank, who climbed into second place thanks to a four-wicket success against Old Elizabethans, with two games to go.

Chaddesley Corbett slipped down to third following a bad day out at fifth-placed Pershore.

Chasing Pershore’s 234-6, Chaddesley were shot out for 107 – a total that would have been far less had number nine Waqur Ahmad not made 61.

Chaddesley are now 18 points behind Stourbridge. This weekend’s fixtures see Stourbridge travel to relegated Evesham while Astwood Bank host Bewdley and Chaddesley welcome Feckenham.

Bewdley will go into the clash on the back of a 28-run success against Evesham.

Simon Mauger made 68 in Bewdley’s 193-7 with Evesham bowled out for 165 in reply.

Shafiq Ahmed took (5-38) in the second innings to guide Old Hill to a 38-run victory at Worcester.

Zain Shahid had earlier made 68 and Ahmed 33 in Old Hill’s 200.

Ryan Derrick record brilliant figures of 8-22 as Stourport shot out Feckenham for 57 on the way to an eight-wicket triumph.