OMBERSLEY have moved up to third spot in the Birmingham League Premier Division after a four-wicket success against rivals Knowle & Dorridge.

Despite 49 from David Myers and 43 from Nathan Roberts, K & D struggled with the bat, reaching 171 all out in 53 overs, a total that Ombersley surpassed for the loss of six wickets, thanks to 36 from Josh Dell and 34 from Chris Harwood.

Earlier in the day, nine of the K & D wickets were shared by Harwood (3-39), Arti Fiaz (3-41) and Ted Bayliss (3-59).

Early season leaders Kidderminster Victoria showed signs of a return to form with a powerful performance against Barnt Green.

Bolstered by the inclusion of Neil Pinner following his release by Leicestershire, Kidderminster romped to 299 all out in 54.4 overs.

Nathan Round (89), Connor Smith (54), Pinner (44) and Andy Kimberlin (36) led the way with Luke Radford taking 4-55 for the home side.

Four overs were lost from the Barnt Green innings but any chance of a spectacular reply soon disappeared after they slumped to 19-4.

Andy Sutton (55) and Radford (29) stopped the rot but Barnt Green were left hanging on at 154 for eight at the close.

Round produced the best figures for Kidderminster, finishing with 3-43.

Dorridge improved their survival chances with a convincing eight-wicket win over Brockhampton who were dismissed for 168 after winning the toss and deciding to bat.

Apart from a battling 55 from Wiltshire’s Henry Langford, Brockhampton struggled against the Dorridge opening attack of David Ball (3-29) and Craig Kirsten (3-33).

There were no such problems for Dorridge as Mo Ishtiaq (68) and Valeed Butt (38) put on 99 for the first wicket before Ball finished the job off with an unbeaten 46 to take his side 28 points ahead of Wolverhampton who lie in 11th place, one point ahead of Brockhampton.

Bromsgrove’s early season promise has disappeared and they are, now, looking at a real threat of relegation if they don’t find some form after a 136- run defeat at Moseley who were helped to 199-8, off 55 overs, by a stand of 104 for the third wicket between Aadam Din (91) and John Williams (42).

Bromsgrove’s response was meek, crumbling to 63 all out in 21 overs as opening bowlers Jono Watts (5-31) and Mark Adair (3-15) ran amok.

Barnards Green, who host leaders Walsall next week, remain on the fringe of the race for promotion from Division One despite being held to a draw by bottom-of-the-table Wellington at Orleton Park.

Opener Andrew Curtis (71) was sixth out at 203 as Barnards Green finished on 224-6 from 55 overs but rain removed a large chunk of the Wellington response, cutting their innings to 38 overs from which they made it to 161-9 at the close.

Jamie Miller hit 71 but Josh Tongue (4 for 49) and Jonathan Dovey (3-35) made sure that they were never in a position to threaten the visitors’ target.

Shifnal edged past Old Elizabethans by two wickets in Division Two after they dismissed the home side for 185.

John Major played the prime role for OE’s with 65 as fiveShifnal bowlers took two wickets apiece.

Muhammed Ayub’s 44 gave the Shifnal reply a good start but it needed 18 from Jack Edwards and an unbeaten 28 from Iain Mills to help them over the line after they had slipped to 149-7 and 155-8.

Water Orton moved off the foot of the Division Three table with an 80-run victory over Worcester who folded to 157 all out in pursuit of the home side’s total of 237-4.

Viv Paver hit 103 and he received great support from Robert Freeman (73) and Hussain Khalil (49) for Water Orton.

Steve Murphy (5-48) and Paver (3-49) saw off Worcester in 33.1 overs and the Norton side are precariously placed one point above the danger zone. Fabian Allen hit 59 for Worcester..

Astwood Bank remain in the relegation zone after a six-wicket loss against Stratford.

Stratford reduced Astwood Bank to 13-3 before 70 from Tom Pedley improved matters but a final total of 153 never looked likely to challenge the visitors.

Mike Brown returned 7-39 for Stratford who eased to a six wicket win, led by an unbeaten 41 from Ben Cooper.