A change of leader has certainly worked wonders for Halesowen. It is only three weeks since Richard Cox was hauled in from the 2nd XI to revive the faltering side with his tactical nous and they have responded in fine style.

Halesowen defeated Birmingham League leaders West Bromwich Dartmouth on Saturday, their second win since 42-year-old Cox took over, taking the team's tally to 62 points from his three matches at the helm.

With fast bowling former Warwickshire all-rounder Paul Smith recently registering for the club and expected to take the field soon, results are likely to improve.

Chris Abbey (65) was the only Dartmouth batsman to provide meaningful resistance as fast bowler Imran Ali (three for 35) and 48-year-old former skipper Allan Warner (two for 25) ran through the hosts' line-up before Alastair Maiden (56), Worcestershire's Daryl Mitchell (35 not out) and John Waterhouse (42 not out) secured the seven-wicket victory.

It is the first time this season that Halesowen have lifted themselves off the foot of the table and such is the competition in that area that they sit four places off the bottom.

A super innings of 95 by Gloucestershire all-rounder Roger Sillence and fine bowling by ex-England spinner Richard Illingworth has left Barnt Green breathing down the necks of Dartmouth.

Barnt Green squeaked home by two runs against Old Hill with only a single ball remaining when Riaz Sheikh (73) became Illingworth's sixth wicket.

Individual performance of the day came from former Warwickshire and Surrey left-arm seamer Micky Bell. The 38-year-old Moseley captain scored a fine half-century to help his side recover from 34 for three before ripping through the Kenilworth Wardens' batting with eight wickets for 67 to clinch a victory that looked unlikely through most of the day.

All had looked lost for Moseley. Wardens required only 15 to win with three overs to go and four wickets in hand when Bell brought himself back on to deliver the last couple of overs. It proved to be an inspired change as he took four wickets in seven balls - including three in four in one over - to skittle the tail.

The victory, only Moseley's second of the season, was timely. Another loss would have left them bottom of the table. Defeat was a bitter blow for Mitesh Patel, who ensured a super start to his side's run-chase with a fine innings of 91.

Leamington prop up the table after they were overwhelmed by fast-improving Walsall. Walsall's skipper, Chris Boroughs, top-scored for the hosts with an unbeaten 84 while former Worcestershire batsman Nathan Round contributed 51.

But the real damage was done by seamer Dave Follett who dismissed both openers before conceding a run. Leamington never recovered from their poor start and subsided to a 110-run defeat. Two victories in two matches for Walsall has taken them from the basement to mid-table.

It was a tale of two South Africans at Wellington. First Benji Hector stroked an aggressive 90, with his captain, Gavin Byram (49 not out), setting a respectable total of 246.

But a swift 93 by Ryan McLaren and six sixes in a 22-ball 57 by Kevin Bray took Knowle and Dorridge to victory with almost ten overs to spare.

Greg Smith struck 70 for Coventry and North Warwickshire but received little support and could not prevent Himley hastening to a fivewicket victory.

In Division One, the top three clubs, Smethwick (for whom Imran Jamiel scored 97), Water Orton and Kidderminster Victoria were easy winners, against Walmley, Dorridge and Cannock, who appear doomed. Towards the bottom, five teams are split by only three points.

Worcestershire's Will Gifford, with an unbeaten 92, was the star for Kidderminster while left-arm seamer Nigel Davenport took five wickets in only six overs.

Aston Unity stayed within the pack with a crushing win over Sutton Coldfield. Medium-pacer Michael Dean took seven wickets for Sutton but Alex Perkins' 72 was easily the most accomplished innings of the match. Sutton could not cope with Laeq Rehman's bowling.

Meanwhile, Simon Gear's return from injury has reignited Harborne's season. The powerful opener scored an unbeaten 57 in his side's nine-wicket victory. Earlier, Harbone's pair of legspinners, John Cockcroft and Stephen Moreton, had taken five wickets between them.

Shifnal increased their lead to 23 points in Division Two, with Moseley Ashfield finishing two runs short of Lichfield in a high-scoring encounter. Penkridge made a remarkable 320 for one but could not force victory over Pershore on a batsman-friendly pitch.