HALESOWEN'S season has started to hit some momentum and captain Richard Brooker is delighted with the work his players have put in after a shaky start.

Brooker said: "Although we have had to make some adjustments to the line up over recent weeks the players have really settled in to a style of play and format that we are comfortable with. This week we won with the everyone taking control of the game and it was good to see the batsmen in particular drive home the run-scoring opportunities in chasing down Old Elizabethans 181-8."

The win moves Halesowen to fifth in the table with just a 36 point gap to the promotion places as other teams appear to be faltering.

Old Elizabethans, who were were indebted to 57 from Richard Gardiner, were only, able to reach 181 for eight against Hales, who strolled to a six wicket win with 77 from Unicorns opening batsman Ed Kilbee.

Atiq ur-Rehman took 3-58 for Old Elizabethans but the best return of the match came from Halesowen’s Adam Hawker with 4-35.

In the second team game, Walmley racked up 288-8 declared in 48 overs in a ragged bowling performance from what has been a strength so far this season. Left Arm spinner Tony Bullock claimed 4-58 in nine overs as Gower (102) and Bromley (74) put the Halesowen bowlers to the sword.

In reply, only Richard Cox (53) and Shaz Gill (38) responded with any application as the team were bowled out for 174 with Schmid (6-47) being the architect of the defeat. The team now lies rock bottom of the Premier Division 2nd XIs and has key fixtures in the next two weeks to turn things around.

The thirds notched 230 all out against Claverley with stand-in captain Luke Miley (72) and Hassan Akram (45) being the main run scorers. But Claverley passed the total off the final ball with two wickets in hand.

Halesowen first will welcome Penkridge to Seth Somers Park this Saturday (noon start).

The second are at Astwood Bank, the thirds at Alveley and the fourths welcome Alvechurch to Earls High School (1pm).