West Bromwich Dartmouth showed the full extent of their Birmingham League title pedigree as they held on for a winning draw against Barnt Green, one of their main rivals.

But it was still a day when Dartmouth's advantage at the top was narrowed to 13 points by victories for Knowle & Dorridge as well as Old Hill.

Pre-season title favourites K&D were easy winners by eight wickets at relegation candidates Leamington.

But Old Hill's victory at Walsall to remain joint second was the more impressive.

After his 144 in last week's win at home to Moseley, Ravi Nagra was again among the runs at Gorway, smashing an unbeaten 89 as Old Hill reached their victory target of 203 with more than eight overs in hand.

Nathan Round had hit 62 against his old club while Walsall captain Chris Boroughs weighed in with 41. But, once Nagra got going, becoming the Premier Division's leading run-scorer this season in the process, the result was never in doubt as Walsall slumped to their first league defeat of the summer.

K&D's 20-point haul at Leamington always looked on the cards after they bowled out the home side for only 160.

Former Warwickshire spinner Jamie Spires led the way with four for 42 while last term's leading top-flight wicket-taker Nick Clewley bounced back to more like his best form with a three-wicket haul.

Dan Dalton then saw his side home with an unbeaten 78, being well-supported by Kevin Bray, with 35, as the visitors secured an early finish.

It was a lot tighter at Cherry Hill Road, where Barnt Green ran up 22 runs short in their bid to topple the leaders.

Huw Jones scored 67 as Dartmouth, missing skipper Matt Rawnsley, totalled 202 for seven. Despite an unbeaten 61 by home captain Richard Illingworth and Roger Sillence's 34, the home side lost too many wickets to remain in serious victory contention.

The individual performance of the day came from Shitansu Kotak in Kenilworth Wardens' 28-run win at home to Himley.

Kotak scored 46 as his team laboured to 179 for five from their 55 overs before he starred with the ball as Himley were bowled out for only 151.

Already the top flight's leading wicket-taker this season, Kotak took his tally to 24 after taking five for 58.

Only captain Greg Wright provided any lengthy resistance for Himley with 60.

In the battle at the bottom of the table between home team Halesowen and Coventry the visitors came out on top.

Mark Lilley took three wickets as Halesowen were limited to 195 for eight, of which former skipper Richard Cox chipped in with a useful 39, supported by Orson Nurse (40) and Simon Hawk (38). But Coventry cruised home in reply, Keith Bell scoring 65 not out, aided by Greg Smith (58) and John May (48).

That catapulted Coventry three places up the league to eighth. It leaves anxious Halesowen, champions only three years ago, looking increasingly marooned at the foot of the table.

Champions Wellington failed to win for the sixth time this season as they suffered a losing draw at Moseley.

The 44-point deficit that separates them from the leaders is starting to look harder to make up with every passing week.

Wasim Khan (60) and Pardeep Virdee (50) were the main run-getters as Moseley ran up 232 for seven from their 55 overs.

Veteran Dennis Hampton marked his step up to firstteam duty by grabbing five wickets. In reply, Wellington were kept in touch only by Benji Hector's 97. Once he was out Peter Smith, with four wickets, had Wellington hanging on to avoid defeat.