STOURBRIDGE need just 28 points from their remaining four games to claim the Worcester League crown after holding Astwood Bank to a draw.

Richard Bradley will lead his side into the Bank Holiday double bill away against Worcester (Saturday) and home to Droitwich (Monday) knowing that at some stage over the 48 hours he should have the league trophy in his hand, with the club’s long-awaited return to the Birmingham League confirmed.

Bank still hold a mathematical chance of overhauling the long-time leaders but this would require them to win all four remaining games and hope for a collapse of Devon Lock proportions from a Stour side which has averaged nearly 20 points a game this term.

In reality their final chance of causing an upset came on Saturday but they were unable to force a win at the War Memorial.

Bradley asked the visitors to bat after winning the toss and the hosts got off to the perfect start by removing the dangerous Steve Adshead in James Musk’s fourth ball and fellow opener Tom Pedley also didn’t hang around long.

Paul Boycott and Christopher Perkins put on an important 42 before they were both removed, though the pivotal partnership was a stand of 96 between Pete Alexander and Samuel Churchley.

This allowed Bank to reach a defendable total of 210-9 with Musk (4-63) the pick of the bowling unit.

Stour’s reply then got off to as poor a start as Bank’s with paceman Tom Harris accounting for Matt Bradley and Josh Banks quickly.

Skipper Bradley and Steve Game steadied the ship before their exits left the score on 84-4. Nevertheless, Stour still looked capable of pulling off the win before the exits of Alex Bingham (27) and James Musk (51).

Stour were then forced to defend as they finished on 187-8.

While Stourbridge may have to wait until Monday to clinch the Division One title, there is guaranteed to be drama in the town on Saturday when Stourbridge Social host Amblecote and Wollaston in Division Four.

The derby atmosphere will be ramped up a notch with both teams desperate for a win - though for different reasons.

Social need 13 points to seal promotion from Division Four while at the other end of the table only a win can save Amblecote from relegation, after their defeat to Martley last Saturday.

Their Social hosts also tasted defeat and missed their chance to go up with a week to spare as they lost by four wickets to Alveley.

Social were put into bat in overcast conditions and Alveley’s bowlers took full advantage as they tore through the top five.

Waqas Ahmed and Paul Clarke staged a minor recovery but after they fell for 16 and 17 respectively, wickets began tumbling again and Social found themselves languishing on 67-8.

Tim Griffiths top scored with 27 as he and Usman Riaz (9) battled to take Social past three figures as they were eventually knocked over for 111, Josh Bent being the pick of Alveley’s bowlers with figures of 6-43.

Social’s opening bowlers Ahmed and Riaz immediately found their lengths as they made quick inroads into the Alveley top order and the home side looked in serious trouble at 40-5.

But Bent followed up his earlier bowling heroics with an unbeaten 42 and guided Alveley to the winning target for the loss of six wickets. Ahmed finished with a superb spell of 5-40 but it proved to be in vain as Social were left to rue their failings with the bat and missed opportunities in the field.

Amblecote and Wollaston’s survival hopes suffered a huge hit with a seven wicket defeat to Martley - a result which could still prove decisive.