Jitesh bags six of the best to lead Stour stroll
Jitesh Jivan-Patel was the star of the show as Stourbridge maintained their grip on pole position in the Worcestershire County League.
The experienced seamer is enjoying a fruitful summer and recorded season-best figures to help his side ease past bottom-of-the-table Feckenham.
The visitors made a solid start to the clash at the War Memorial Ground with a half-century opening stand. But Jivan-Patel then took centre stage by ripping out four of their top five on his way to superb figures of 6-28 from 10 overs with Feckenham eventually battling their way to 131.
The six-wicket haul lifted Jivan-Patel up to second behind Old Hill’s Naqaash Tahir in the Premier Division’s wicket-taking list.
Despite an early wobble, Stourbridge made light work of their victory chase with an unbeaten 58 from Matthew Bradley and 37 not out from Mavarick Perry seeing them home for the loss of two wickets.
The victory leaves Stour 18 points clear of second-placed Redditch who beat Chaddesley by eight wickets, a result that saw Chaddesley slip down to fourth.
Old Hill are sitting sixth following a 44-run success against lowly Evesham.
Ex-Warwickshire batsman Navdeep Poonia top scored with 65 in Old Hill’s 179.
Experienced spinner Nigel Davenport then led the way with the ball as Evesham fell for 135.
Davenport bagged 4-22 from nine overs with Aamir Manzoor (3-26) and Tahir (2-31) offering good support.
The race for glory in Division One is hotting up after Coombs Wood downed leaders Colwall in a dramatic clash.
Coombs Wood were reeling at 19-6 but staged a recovery to reach 123 thanks to 24 from Matthew Colwell and 25 from Nabell Ali, batting at seven and nine respectively.
New-ball pairing Alex Gregory and Alex Chappell then completed a stunning turnaround as they rolled over the visitors for 74.
Gregory took top billing with a superb spell of 6-30 from nine overs while Chappell picked up 3-37 as Coombs Wood climbed to third.
Hagley defeated Bredon by six wickets to join Colwall at the top of the table.
After restricting their visitors to 149-9 from 40 overs, an unbeaten 56 from skipper Michael Stead, 38 from Christiaan Levitt and 33 not out from Will Hymer sealed the victory.
Fourth-placed Cookley missed the chance to advance as they were beaten at Pedmore.
Calum White (58) and James Burgoyne (46 not out) were the chief run-scorers in Pedmore’s 238.
Daud Islam and Ben Taylor then bagged three wickets each as Cookley were dismissed for 121.
Belbroughton continued good form by beating visiting Worcester Nomads at Hackmans Gate Lane.
Nick Kates (63), Ryan Price (60), Peter Hawk (48 not out) and Geoff Day (44 not out) fired Belbroughton to 235-2 from 40 overs.
Jon Hawk’s 4-18 then helped dismiss Nomads for 192
Oldswinford beat basement side Droitwich Spa to move comfortably clear of the relegation zone.
A half-century from Thomas Blunt and 41 from Harry Stanier helped Oldswinford to 185.
In reply, Droitwich made 146 with Patrick Addis claiming 4-34.
