OMBERSLEY were knocked off the top of Birmingham Cricket League Premier Division Two by Harborne who beat them by 65 runs.

An unbeaten 170 from just 69 balls by Swapnil Gugale propelled Harborne to an eye-watering 263-3 in 20 overs.

The Indian all-rounder thrashed nine fours and 18 sixes as Harborne set a target that proved to be far too many.

In a brave attempt to match the required run-rate of 13.2 per over, Ombersley finished on 198-8.

Harborne went two points ahead of Ombersley in the race to secure promotion to the top tier.

Ombersley’s former Worcestershire ace Gareth Andrew hit eight fours and four sixes in a 25-ball innings of 62 while Tom Arnold took 3-33 for Harborne.

Title-challengers Leamington Spa were defeated at Bromsgrove by seven wickets and dropped down to fourth.

The match was reduced to 24 overs per side and an opening burst from Gareth Williams undermined Leamington from the start.

Harrison Smith hit 49 before his was the eighth wicket to fall at 82.

Leamington closed on 90-9 with Williams taking 4-2 in five overs.

His spell set up Bromsgrove for a comfortable seven-wicket win as Ashley Newfield hit six boundaries in 49 not out.

Bottom side Brockhampton’s home match with Barnards Green was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Worcestershire’s Tom Fell struck 111 from 99 balls in Wolverhampton’s 19-run loss at Bridgnorth before he was out hit wicket.

Kidderminster’s two-wicket success against Smethwick lifted the Chester Road club up to fifth in Division One.

In the only match that started as a 50 overs-per-side contest, a fifth-wicket stand of 143 between Gurinder Singh (124no) and Sunny Singh (47) helped Smethwick recover from 35-4 to finish on 228-7.

Gurinder Singh faced 114 balls and hit 12 fours and five sixes but the innings of the match came from Kidderminster skipper Neil Pinner.

Arfan Khan (5-32) left Kidderminster struggling on 73-5 and 119-6 before Pinner found a willing partner in Barney Morgan.

They added 72 before Morgan fell for 27 but his dismissal did not stop Pinner who finished unbeaten on 122 from 97 balls.

His contribution included 15 fours and a six as he steered Kidderminster to a seasonal double over the visitors.

Barnt Green’s Ed Pollock clattered 13 fours and seven sixes in a 98-ball innings of 150 against Kenilworth Wardens.

Dom Harding added 50 as the Worcestershire club closed on 308-7 from 40 overs.

Nathan Edwards took 3-63 for Wardens who were dismissed for 184 in reply.

Harry Johnson top scored with 51 while Green skipper Darrel Williams took the bowling honours with 4-30.

Green moved up to third place in the table with the 124-run win.