Barnt Green took advantage of Old Hill's spectacular slipup to move effortlessly back to the top of the Birmingham League table.

Twice runners-up over the past two years, Richard Illingworth's Green are particularly mindful of the way they suffered four successive defeats to allow Wellington to steal the title last August.

Ironically it was Wellington who did them a favour on Saturday by beating Old Hill.

Wellington's total of 167 did not look that competitive. But the Shropshire side then skittled out Old Hill for just 76, Anthony O'Connor taking three wickets.

Meanwhile, Barnt Green made short work of Moseley. Despite 45 from Pete Magafas, Moseley were shot out for just 113.

In the absence of captain Illingworth, New Zealander Kris Howes took over the main responsibility with the ball, claiming four for 22.

Richard Hall then hit an unbeaten 49, supported by Roger Sillence's 44 not out, as the Green got over an early collapse to win with seven wickets and a whopping 38 overs to spare.

At the bottom, Wellington's second win in three weeks has moved the twice champions clear of danger.

But Halesowen's bid to vault clear of the relegation zone stuttered in their bottom of the table clash at Leamington.

Chasing a Leamington total of 226 for six dominated by Jason Young's rapid 94, Halesowen needed captain Richard Cox's 33 and the defiance of last-wicket pair Nadeem Sajjad and Imran Ali just to avoid defeat.

Moseley, who go to Leamington next week and still have to travel to Halesowen, are right still in the thick of it.

Another century from inform opener Keith Bell could not stop Coventry remaining very much part of the equation. With Ryan McLaren hitting 83 and Dan Dalton 68 for Knowle and Dorridge, they lost by five wickets.

Walsall also continue to look over their shoulders after failing to get 191 to win at Kenilworth Wardens.

Despite a half century from Chris Boroughs, Shitansu Kotak, who had earlier hit 61, put the brakes on with another five wickets.

Himley got home with 11 balls to spare at fast-faltering West Bromwich Dartmouth. Despite Huw Jones' century for the home side, Gerhardus Strydom (67 not out) and Chris Pearce (60) combined to carve out a fifth victory of the season.

The First Division promotion race now looks a complicated affair, with just 18 points separating the top four.

Leaders Smethwick were held at home by Dorridge, while Lesroy Irish claimed six wickets to inspire Water Orton's win in the third v second clash with Kidderminster Victoria and that result enabled Shrewsbury to get right back in the picture with a 24-point maximum eight-wicket win at home to Cannock.

Antonio Mullins, with seven wickets, was the architect, before Ed Foster saw Shrewsbury home with 62.

That capped a bad day at the office for Cannock. Earlier in the day, they were docked 20 points for persistent disciplinary offences over the past two years.

This had been a suspended sentence last season, but was finally imposed following their latest brush with authority. And, having now gone 69 points adrift of safety, it has thereby hastened their inevitable relegation.

Wolverhampton opened up the Second Division title race with an astonishingly easy ten-wicket local derby win over leaders Shifnal at Danescourt.

After limiting Shifnal to just 173 for eight, Wolves then knocked them off inside 27 overs, Duncan Lampitt (92 not out) and former Derbyshire man Andrew Gait (78 not out) remaining unparted.

In Division Three, Evesham and Aston Manor both won again to look even more nailed on for promotion.

Evesham made hard work of it, defeating visitors Coleshill by two-runs to stay clear at the top. And secondplaced Aston Manor are now 37 points clear of third-placed St Georges after a threewicket win at home to Beacon.