KIDDERMINSTER'S relegation from Birmingham League Premier One was confirmed following a six wicket defeat to top of the table Knowle and Dorridge.
Despite a brave effort with the bat from skipper Neil Pinner, Kiddy's fate proved inevitable after what has proved a desperate season for the Chester Road side.
Pinner proved defiant to the end, the former Leicestershire and Worcester allrounder plundered 106 with the bat off 112 balls as Kidderminster posted a decent total of 232 for six from a slightly reduced 49 overs.
Pinner's efforts proved in vain as Knowle and Dorridge raced to a winning 233 for four in reply with plenty of overs to spare.
The result was never really in doubt once Knowle and Dorridge opening bats Alex Phillips and Hamza Shaikh moved into gear.
Phillips plundered 65 while Shaikh struck 89, the pair putting on 160 for the first wicket partnership.
Halesowen's hopes of catching Knowle and Dorridge suffered a severe setback after losing out by six runs to Shrewsbury courtesy of the Duckworth Lewis System.
In a rain interrupted affair, Shrewsbury reached 169 for six from a reduced 38 overs.
Peter Clark cracked top score of 43 while Harry Kitchen claimed three for 33 and Alexei Kervezee two for 19 to keep the flow of runs in check.
Halesowen were given a revised target of 189 to chase down in 38 overs, but fell agonisingly short when closing on 182 for nine.
Halesowen's Herefordshire opening bat Luke Tulacz struck 60 while Simon Gregory supported with 34 but the innings was kept in check by Luke Thornton who took three for 36 while Lewis Evans captured three for 32.
Barnt Green's progress hit the buffers as they were beaten by Berkswell.
The Green's batting big guns failed to fire as they slumped to 67 for seven at one stage before strike bowler Andy Sutton led a lower order revival.
Sutton struck a stubborn 44 not out and found support from fellow opening bowler Adam Hines who hit 22 not out while Jack Warner added another 29 after Dan Meredith had scored an earlier 32.
They all combined to boost the Green's total to 169 for nine in the face of some hostile bowling by former Warwickshire player Ryan Sidebottom who snapped up four for 33 while Josh Aspinall assisted by taking three for 25.
Berkswell scored steadily throughout the order when they replied, ex Glamorgan player Nick James making top score of 28 not out while Warwickshire's Will Rhodes with 22 and former Leicestershire and Middlesex man Neil Dexter on 21 added support.
Himley missed a huge chance to take over top spot in Premier Two after losing out by 121 runs to Leamington Spa.
The Stourbridge Road side were undone by former T20 star and England international Darren Maddy who turned back the clock to sparkle with both bat and ball.
The Spa side were struggling at one stage and restricted to 129 for seven when Maddy joined forces with Tom Warner to put on an unbroken partnership of 96.
That took Leamington to 223 for seven off their 50 overs, Maddy making 51 not out while Warner added another 42.
Himley were then removed for 102 in reply, Pierce Ryan picking up five for 27 while that man Maddy claimed three for eight.
Earlier in the game Ollie Walker had continued his fine form by taking three for 48 and then top scored with the bat on 33.
Bottom of the table Bromsgrove will be kicking themselves after losing out by one wicket to Tamworth.
Ashley Newfield knocked off 78 runs as Bromsgrove recovered from 67 for seven to reach 149 all out.
Tamworth were soon in trouble when they replied and were quickly reduced to 37 for four.
Stuart Burrows steadied the innings with a timely 49 but Tamworth still looked down and out when the ninth wicket went down with 21 runs still required.
Richard Colyer kept his cool to score 20 not out off 42 balls while Tom Kinson, who added a further four runs off 28 balls, also remained calm and took Tamworth to victory on 150 for nine.
The result was especially tough on Alex Wilkinson who had taken an excellent six for 36 with the ball.
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