KIDDERMINSTER continue to fall further adrift of safety after suffering another setback in Birmingham League Premier One.

Still seeking their first success of the season, Kidderminster crashed to a five wicket defeat against Worcestershire rivals Ombersley.

It leaves the Chester Road side marooned at the bottom of the table some 63 points adrift with eight games remaining.

In a rain restricted contest, Kidderminster fell well short with the bat when reaching 127 for eight off a reduced 34 overs.

Luke Powell plundered 49, but there was insufficient support as Ombersley's bowling attack held sway.

Having been reduced to 15 for three at one stage, Kidderminster never really recovered, former county player George Panayi picking up bowling figures of three for 31 while Josh Holling and Fahad Sabir both struck with a couple of wickets.

Kidderminster were given a brief glimmer of hope in reply when Liam Weston had Worcestershire's Taylor Cornall caught by Charlie Stainforth without a run on the board.

Rizwan Hussain with 55 and Nick Hammond on 29 soon dispelled any prospects of a Kidderminster victory as Ombersley cantered to a winning 128 for five in the 22nd over, despite the efforts of former county player Graham Wagg who bagged an impressive three for 10 from his five over spell.

In sharp contrast Halesowen beat a star studded Berkswell side by 49 runs to move within four points of league leaders Knowle and Dorridge.

That was after Halesowen had made an indifferent start with the bat as Glamorgan's Zain Ul Hassan was removed by Warwickshire's Will Rhodes while Australian Ben Tredget fell victim to former Middlesex and Leicestershire allrounder Neil Dexter.

It meant Halesowen were tottering on 32 for three when Simon Gregory came to the rescue.

Gregory posted an impressive 91 not out off 128 balls and found support from skipper Alexei Kervezee who added another 36 as Halesowen went onto reach 177 for nine from a reduced 48 overs.

Former Glamorgan spinner Nick James picked up three for 50 while Rhodes with two for 16 and former Bear Grant Thornton who took two for 28, helped keep the flow of runs in check.

Berkswell were left reeling in reply as Eddie Rhodes ripped through the early order to take three for 17 from his 10 overs spell.

Zain Ul Hassan then snapped up four for 22 while Ed Bragg and James Rudge accounted for the remaining wickets to fall as Berkswell were bowled out for 128.

Jacques Banton produced another brilliant batting display for Barnt Green in a rain restricted clash with Wolverhampton.

While elder brother Tom Banton was enjoying Vitality Blast success with Somerset, Jacques kept busy by clocking up his second successive century.

Having lost Worcestershire opener Ed Pollock cheaply, Jacques Banton took charge by scoring a sublime 139 not out off 121 balls.

His innings contained 13 fours and seven sixes as Barnt Green built a huge total of 256 for three declared off 40 overs.

Ben Chapman-Lilley provided support with 45 while Ollie Cox added another 44.

Set a Duckworth Lewis System score of 257 in 32 overs, Wolves were never in the hunt when they replied, reaching 72 for three before play came to a halt.

There was still time for Robbie Shurmer to snap up all three wickets to fall, each one caught behind by wicketkeeper Amrinder Brar, including ex Worcestershire batsman Tom Fell.

Himley remain third in Premier Two despite finishing on the wrong end of a drawn contest with strugglers Bridgnorth.

Ryan Lockley reeled off an imposing 84 not out and found support from Sam Whitney who added 61 as Bridgnorth reached 190 all out.

Himley were restricted to 140 for nine in reply from a reduced 35 overs, Navindu Vithanage providing top score of 69.

Bromsgrove were involved in another batting disaster after being bowled out for 84 against Shifnal.

The Bromsgrove batsman had no answer to the bowling of Worcestershire seamer Mitch Stanley who snatched figures of six for 26 and was ably backed up by Shropshire's Ben Roberts who recorded three for 43.

Only Andy Kimberlin with 20 and Will Tuffin on 16 not out made it into double figures for Bromsgrove before Shifnal strolled home in replay by reaching 85 for five after 21 overs.

This defeat now leaves Bromsgrove an alarming 37 points from safety as they slip further adrift at the bottom of the table.