KNOWLE and Dorridge CC claimed a dramatic three-wicket win against Halesowen to move top of the table.
The returning Henry Brookes took five wickets with the ball as Knowle bowled the home side out for 249 in the final over of their innings at Seth Somers Park.
And George Maddy and Warwickshire CCC batter Hamza Shaikh impressed at the crease as Knowle reached the required target with three wickets to spare in 53.4 overs.
The result means Knowle lead the Birmingham and District Premier League Premier Division One table by seven points from closest challengers Himley.
Halesowen won the toss and elected to bat only to lose opener Arun Kalsi (0) for a four-ball duck as Brookes (5-55) made an immediate impact on his return.
And Tom Davis (2-74) accounted for Joe Porter (9) as Brookes returned to remove Luke Tulacz (1) to leave Halesowen on 43-3.
However, South Africa test international Raynard van Tonder (131) blasted 18 boundaries, including seven maximums, en route to a century.
Supported by Simon Gregory (42), the pair enjoyed an 88-run fourth-wicket stand before Freddie Fowler (2-45) broke up the partnership.
And Nick James (1-51) quickly removed Edward Bragg (7) although van Tonder continued to punish the Knowle attack alongside Wesley Griffiths (20).
Former Warwickshire bowler Brookes eventually took the crucial wicket of van Tonder which brought an end to the latter’s entertaining 115-ball knock.
Davis returned to remove Griffiths while Brookes accounted for Ciaran Baker-Smith (14) and Fowler had Masihullah Qazkhill (1) caught.
Brookes wrapped up the innings with the wicket of Eddie Rhodes (11) with Halesowen all out for 249 in 54.1 overs.
Knowle suffered a setback early in their reply as Rhodes (3-57) bowled opener Ethan Berlusconi (6).
However, Maddy (74) and Shaikh (45) combined for a 93-run second-wicket stand with the latter trapped LBW by Qazkhill (2-43) just five runs short of a half-century.
The runs continued to flow although Neil Pinner (13) fell cheaply to Baker-Smith (2-63) while Qazkhill returned to remove Maddy after the latter hit 12 boundaries.
Rhodes accounted for Callum Bennett (37) and Knolwe skipper Oliver Currill (21) after the pair added valuable runs to the away side’s total.
However, Isaac Maddy (37 not out) helped Knowle to victory in the penultimate over of their run chase with three wickets in hand.
Knowle and Dorridge are next in action against Himley on Saturday, June 27 with play to begin at 12pm (midday) at Station Road.
