OMBERSLEY’S Birmingham League Premier Division Two promotion hopes were dented by a 71-run home loss to fifth-from-bottom Bridgnorth.

Former Herefordshire captain David Exall top scored with 53 as Bridgnorth closed on 193-8 against an Ombersley attack missing ex-Worcestershire all-rounder Gareth Andrew.

The hosts’ batsmen could not cope with the spin attack of Sam Whitney (3-21), Jean-Pierre Erasmus (3-27) and Sam Baugh (3-35) as they folded to 122 all out.

New leaders Oswestry moved nine points clear of Ombersley, who dropped to fourth, with a seven-wicket win over Brockhampton who were shot out for 66.

The Herefordshire side are relegated to the Worcestershire League with four games still to play.

Lahiru Samarakoon was again the main man for Oswestry with 5-6 as he took his total of wickets for the season to 39.

Barnards Green slipped to third from bottom with a 49-run home defeat to mid-table county rivals Bromsgrove.

The visitors elected to bat first and were rewarded by Ashley Newfield (121), Dean Patel (102 not out) and Jayden Levitt (78).

Levitt and Newfield put on 166 for the second wicket before Newfield and Patel added 139 for the third wicket to lift Bromsgrove to 315-4 from 50 overs.

But the top score of the match came from Green skipper Ryan Tongue with 132 from 126 balls.

Mahaaz Ahmed added 52 but their efforts were in vain as Bromsgrove’s Jack Taylor took 4-72 to restrict the home side to 266-9.

Green are 69 points clear of second-from-bottom Tamworth.

Worcestershire’s Adam Finch took 3-31 but his Wolverhampton side lost by 26 runs to Halesowen.

The all-county clash between Barnt Green and Kidderminster went the way of the hosts by 21 runs in Division One.

This was despite another fine innings from Kidderminster skipper Neil Pinner who took his total for the season to 834 with 77 in his side’s total of 191.

It was in response to a Green total of 212-7 in 50 overs.

Ed Pollock hit a brisk 55 and Dom Harding 43 but Andy Sutton stifled the Kidderminster reply with 4-32.

He was backed up by Adam Hines with 3-34 as Green boosted their hopes of finishing in the top three.

Worcestershire’s Dillon Pennington claimed 3-21 but could not help second-placed Shrewsbury to victory in an eight-wicket defeat to Knowle and Dorridge.