Birmingham League Div 2 - Promotion race goes down to the wire
WITH just 20 points covering the top four teams, every point will be precious as the season reaches its climax with two promotion places up for grabs.
Even fifth-placed Ombersley, 28 points off the lead, are in with a shout if disaster strikes teams ahead of them.
Leaders Smethwick survived for a draw, at third-placed Water Orton.
Andy Lloyd (53) and Hassan Khalil (47) had taken Water Orton to 205 for nine while the visitors needed a battling 74 from Waseem Khan as Stephen Bevan with five for 46 reduced them to 158 for nine with a spell of accurate left-arm spin.
That result allowed Berkswell to move up to within five points of Smethwick with a seven-wicket win over Evesham.
Masood Pathan top scored with 52 in Evesham’s 160 all out with former Leicestershire seamer Dave Brignull taking 6 for 46 for the home side. Freddie Klokker (65 not out) and Dominic Ostler (51) then eased Berkswell to a convincing victory that leaves them nine points clear of Water Orton.
St. Georges in fourth seem to be coming up fast on the outside in a late bid for promotion after a four-wicket victory over Penn who have dropped off the pace.
Lee Nightingale’s 40 was the high point for Penn, who were dismissed for 94, enabling the Shropshire side to maintain their late surge.
At the bottom, Newport defeated already doomed Aston Unity by 39 runs.
But it wasn’t enough to save them from joining their victims through the relegation trap door as Tamworth and Old Elizabethans picked up the victories that they needed to take them beyond Newport’s reach.
Priyadarshana Rasike (77) and Paul Furniss (43) took Newport to 201 all out, with Dutch starlet, Tim Gruijters taking four for 34.
Unity, with just 10 men, were dismissed for 162, as Jonathan Prince struck with 6 for 39. Salim Malik managed 64 for Unity to frustrate the home side. Olly Griffiths (four for 21) and Stuart Lockwood (four for 46) did most to dismiss Aston Manor for 100 which Old Elizabethans reached for the loss of six wickets.
Stuart Burrows (103) and Keryn Ambler (54) took Tamworth to 250 for seven, against another 10-man side, Ombersley, who fell 21 short when the ninth wicket fell to give Tamworth victory.
Matt Rawnsley took five for 61, for Ombersley, who looked to be on their way to victory while Joph Young (65) and Joey Robinson (52) were at the crease.
They reckoned without left-arm spinner Mick Nield though who took five for 66 to see Tamworth to safety.
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