THREE sides remain in the hunt for the Birmingham League Premier Division title but Shrewsbury can claim the crown with two wins from their last three games.

Shrewsbury sealed a convincing six-wicket victory over Wolverhampton, who have slipped to the foot of the table after Brockhampton’s narrow nine-run success over title contenders Berkswell.

Worcestershire’s contracted players featured for their clubs and the efforts of Ed Barnard and Joe Leach for Shrewsbury outshone those of Tom Fell and Chris Russell for Wolverhampton.

Matthew Kleinveldt scored 72 in a Wolverhampton total of 208 all out with Mike Barnard taking 3-33 for Shrewsbury. Joe Leach (2-46) and Ed Barnard (2-47) chipped in with two wickets apiece for Shrewsbury.

Ed Foster (61) and Ed Barnard (49 not out) put together a crucial stand of 56 for the fourth Shrewsbury wicket and after the dismissal of Foster, Barnard took command to extend his side’s lead at the top of the table.

Brockhampton’s total of 141 was built around 45 from Henry Langford with former England man Darren Maddy taking 4-17.

Maddy was the eighth man out for 57 with the total on 117 but no other Berkswell batsman reached double figures as Jamie McIlroy (3-28), Worcestershire’s Charlie Morris (2-23) and Callum Stewart (2-24) finished them off for 134.

Kidderminster maintained their 100 per cent record in the 50-over format with a 74-run win over Walmley. Michael Hill (118 not out) and Neil Pinner (65) added 121 for the fourth Kidderminster wicket as they reached 283-6 in 50 overs. Walmley faded away to 209-9. Kenilworth Wardens squeezed home by nine runs against Ombersley who finished on 267-9 in response to their hosts’ total of 276-7.

Arjun Bath (81), Martin Donald (59 not out) and Nick Seager (42) were the mainstays for Wardens before Liam Gwynne (97) and Freddie Wynn (63) put together an opening stand of 181 for Ombersley. Once they were dismissed, the Wardens attack took over, led by Scott Stenning with 4-54.

Smethwick showed their unpredictability in Division One with a 28-run defeat at home to Barnards Green who were dismissed for 198. Ryan Tongue hit 98 with former Warwickshire seamers Naqaash Tahir and Mo Sheikh taking 4-24 and 3-32, respectively, for Smethwick. George Rhodes took 4-42 for Green.

Leamington Spa’s promotion hopes suffered a blow after they invited Bromsgrove to bat. Jayden Levitt with 137 from 101 balls and Alexei Kervezee with 61 from 56 balls, helped by 84 extras, blasted Bromsgrove to a formidable 348-8.

Oswestry, who included Worcestershire regulars Joe Clarke and Jack Shantry, struggled to 146 all out, despite an unbeaten 52 from Joe Carrasco and 44 from Clarke.

In Division Two, the clash between the bottom two sides in the table went the way of Eastnor after they dismissed Stourbridge for 82. Raheel Lone (4-25) did most of the damage before an unbeaten 26 from Atiq ur-Rehman took the Herefordshire side home.

Despite falling to a one-wicket defeat to Old Elizabethans, Brewood moved out of the bottom two thanks to the five bonus points they earned. Brewood made 159 all out with Hemaka Pathiranage taking 4-36 for OEs. The Worcester side were indebted to a fifth-wicket partnership of 86 between Carl Turner (54) and Damon Gariff (43) but Jamie Lunn (4-34) and Andrew Day (3-19) did their utmost to win the game for the hosts.

Astwood Bank recorded an eight-wicket win against Kings Heath in Division Three with 14-year-old chinaman bowler Muhammed Safiyan taking 5-20 after Kings Heath’s openers had put on 85 for the first wicket. Steve Adshead (108 not out) guided Bank to victory.

Worcester are in a relegation battle after a 16-run defeat against Whitchurch. Nick Brown (62) and Ian Cottrill (57 not out) gave Worcester hope but they slumped from 215-6 to 233 all out.