IN the Worcestershire County League Premier Division Stourbridge lead the way after Jujhar Johal put in a man of the match performance.

After taking a first innings 4-73 against Redditch Johal smashed 127 to help chase down 263 for a win which keeps them seven points clear at the top.

Second placed Astwood Bank won a tight match against Old Elizabethans after opening batsman Rob West fell one short of a deserved century as they battled to reach their target of 225 with seven balls to spare.

Chaddesley Corbett had a bad day at fifth placed Pershore where they were soundly beaten, scoring 107 all out in reply to the host's 234-6.

Simon Mauger (68) helped Bewdley to victory against relegated Evesham and Shafiq Ahmed took 5-38 to guide Old Hill to victory at Worcester.

Stourport's Ryan Derrick took 8-22 as he blew away basement side Feckenham who managed just 57 all out.

In division one Colwall collected maximum points against Worcester Nomads to leave them needing 30 points from the remaining three games to take the title.

Bromyard kept themselves in line for the other promotion place by beating Coombs Wood by seven wickets, a win that maintained their thirty point gap to Burghill who dismissed Droitwich Spa.

Hagley are a further four points behind after a five wicket victory against Pedmore and the only other side with an outside chance of promotion are Belbroughton, who kept themselves in the race as Tom McKenzie's 7-22 led them to victory against basement side Bredon.

Oldswinford maintained their mid-table status with an eight wicket win against Cookley.

In division two, Ombersley became the first team to gain promotion as they beat third placed Himley in a low scoring match by fourteen runs.

The long-time leaders now need just eleven points to become champions.

Waqas Ahmed (89 and 4-8) led second placed Lye to victory over Himbleton, a win that moved them 44 points clear of third position which Himley now share with Barnt Green, who beat Kidderminster by 27.

In other matches Bromsgrove won against Astwood Bank, Enville beat relegation-threatened Brockhampton and lowly Bartestree gained their third victory of the season against Halesowen, who are now in serious danger just one place above the drop zone and one win ahead of Brockhampton who they visit on the final day of the season.

Division three is another division which looks like going right to the wire as the top four teams are separated by just twenty eight points.

Netherton maintained a 16 point lead at the top after Danny Lowe (7-27) bowled out Kempsey to set up to victory with the only resistance coming from Matthew Walters (103).

England physical disabilities star Ben Sutton (7-50) showed his class as he helped second placed Barnards Green keep up with the pace setters by beating Martley by three wickets.

Nadeem Shoaib (63), Fahad Mahmood (60) and Harry Sekhon (54) all posted half centuries in third placed Old Hill's win against relegated Pershore, a win that keeps them just twenty points behind the leaders and four off the promotion places and Angus Guthrie (5-41) and Chris Drew (60) were the main protagonists for Old Vigornians as they beat Old Elizabethans at the Kings School by six wickets to stay well and truly in the hunt just twelve points off the promotion places.

Elsewhere, Rushwick gained an important win at Redditch which moved them out of the relegation places at the expense of Stourbridge who were beaten by Avoncroft, for whom Craig Hughes took 5-39 in the first innings.

It is still all to play for at the top and bottom in what has been an enthralling division to follow this season. No doubt with more twists and turns to come.

Long time division four leaders Harborne ensured promotion at least on Saturday as they marched to a comfortable victory against Astwood Bank, who remain in a relegation dog fight.

They are now 49 points ahead of second placed Worcester which in turn means just one more win will seal the title for the south Birmingham outfit.

Second placed Worcester are also going to be difficult to overhaul following a five wicket win at relegated Halesowen.

They are now thirty nine points ahead of Alvechurch and Hopwood for whom Curtis Beach scored a fine 137 only to be left frustrated by a dogged Coombs Wood side that clung on for a losing draw.

In other matches, Stourport claimed a maximum points winning draw against local rivals Bewdley to keep their feint hopes of promotion alive.

Five Ways Old Edwardians compiled an excellent first innings total in their victory against Eastnor which keeps them in with an unlikely, mathematical chance of promotion and Chris Burford (5-30) continued his excellent late season form with the ball to lead Bromsgrove to victory against Romsley who are not yet out of danger.

Division five still looks very intriguing at both ends of the table.

At the top Anoup Nandra (79), Amar Sodha (76) and Harjit Singh (5-23) ensured Chaddesley Corbett retained top spot by beating Droitwich Spa who remain in the relegation zone.

This win keeps them just four points ahead of second placed Lye who also won against West Malvern thanks to excellent performances with the bat from Wajid Hussain (78) and T Hussain (65*) and with the ball from Mohammed Ishtiaq (4-46).

Netherton kept themselves in the race for honours as they maintained third position just 27 points behind the promotion places as Ahtesham Waqar (100) helped them chase down relegation-threatened Hagley's first innings total of 187 to win by five wickets.

In other matches Claverley's Tom Grainger and Ryan Mills both scored first innings centuries in their win against Malvern, Rory Mathews (77) led Hanley Castle & Upton to victory against a Worcester Nomads side that are just one point above the relegation zone.

Harry Evans (5-25) and Mathew Morgan (4-8) shared nine first innings wickets to help Colwall beat relegated Feckenham and provide some breathing space at the bottom of the table where it looks like one of four teams (Colwall, Hagley, Worcester Nomads or Droitwich Spa) will go down.