REDDITCH Entaco moved to within 25 points of second-placed Rugby after beating the visitors by 35 runs at Bromsgrove Road.
The Kingfishers are sat comfortably in mid-table at the halfway point of the Birmingham League Division Three campaign ahead of Saturday’s trip to Pelsall, who are a place and one point below their visitors.
Having won the toss, Redditch struggled to get their innings going and found themselves reduced to 100-8.
However, thanks to an excellent 44 not out from Haleem Basharat, the Kingfishers were able to muster 167-9 – the innings ending three balls early due to debutant Amaan Malik sustaining a nasty ankle injury – and they had something to defend.
Spurred on by a partisan home crowd, Redditch soon had Rugby in trouble in their reply and only Raj Chohan with 37 offered any resistance as they were bowled out for just 132.
Skipper Waqas Ali took 5-49 and off-spinner Haris Ali chipped in with 4-40 as the visitors were dismissed inside 45 overs.
The 2nds travelled to Rugby and came back with a gritty losing draw.
Rugby amassed an impressive 307-6 off 50 overs with Charles Robards scoring 126. Steve du Cros took 3-84.
In reply Redditch finished on 180-8, the highlights of which were Stefan Jagielski (52) and Anis Suleman (27).
On Saturday the 2nds host Kidderminster in Division Two 2nd XI.
The 4ths continued their excellent season with an impressive nine-wicket victory at Himley in Worcestershire League Division Eight North.
The home side were bowled out for just 143 as Faheem Talib took 4-36 and in reply Redditch wasted no time, taking just 13.2 overs to reach their target.
Nick Little continued his fine form with the bat with 79 not out, Abdullah Zaheer made 28 and there was a quickfire unbeaten 36 from Adeel Ahmed.
On Saturday the 4ths face a tougher test as leaders Old Halesonians visit the Entaco.
