Roger Sillence would be forgiven for feeling unappreciated at Gloucestershire but his true value is nevertheless held in high regard by Barnt Green after he helped them leapfrog West Bromwich Dartmouth to the top of the Birmingham League's Premier Division.

Sillence, who despite being on the books at Gloucestershire has managed to play in all but one of Barnt Green's league matches, struck a timely and unbeaten 79 runs in his side's six wicket victory over Kenilworth Wardens at Cherry Hill Road.

The all-rounder tops the league's bowling averages and is third in the batting statistics, underlining his true value to the club who have finished runners-up to Wellington for the past two seasons.

Gloucestershire's loss is Barnt Green's gain and skipper Richard Illingworth hopes to cling on to his man for at least the rest of the summer.

"He is a three dimensional player," said Illingworth, the former England spin bowler. "He bats. bowls and fields tremendously well and I am very surprised Gloucestershire have not called on him more.

"He is top of the bowling figures despite being injured and unable to bowl but his batting has been better than we thought it would have been. He regularly makes 50 runs and they are good fifties. This has been a major factor in us winning so many games."

If Sillence remians surplus to requirements at Gloucestershire, Illingworth, no mean judge of potential, believes other Midland counties - perhaps Warwickshire - should sit up an take notice.

"He is a coach's dream and I think other counties should have a look at him. Overall our team's performance this season has been very solid and David Wigley has bowled very well but Roger has really added to our strength."

The target set by Kenilworth (156-8) was never going to trouble Barnt Green despite the best efforts of Minesh Patel (58).

Where there is a chink of light at the top, those teams chasing the leaders will pounce on their chance and West Bromwich Dartmouth's draw with Knowle & Dorridge threw open the door for Barnt Green.

Having dominated the league throughout the season West Bromwich were left chasing the game after Knowle & Dorridge (314-4) set a formidable target thanks to captain Chris

Howell's confidently struck 153 not out. Dan Dalton adedd 65 runs and Ryan McLaren, their South African overseas player, weighed in with 52.

Huw Jones scored 48 runs as West Bromwich made 162-7 in reply but it is a cause for concern that they have not recorded a victory in their past four outings.

While all eyes might have been drawn to the changes at the top of the table the jostling at the other end proved equally intriguing.

Wellington and Coventry & North Warwickshire benefited from reversals in fortune.

Opener Simon Hawk flashed shots to each corner of Seth Somers Park as Halesowen (242-6) set a target of

243. How tantalising it must have seemed as Wellington batsmen Benjamin Hector (84) and Adam Byram (95 not out) set about their task of reaching 243-3.

Moseley must have been similarly confident when they put Coventry in to bat at Streetsbrook Road but they hadn't accounted for the allconquering performance of Asif Khan.

Khan scored 59 in his innings as Coventry made 218 in 54 overs, supported by Greg Smith (51).

Young Khan must have drawn inspiration from the bowling efforts of former Warwickshire fast bowler Wasim Khan (5-77) and Nick Chase (5-59) because, despite fine knocks from Ian Stokes (73) and Omar Masood (65), he whipped through the Moseley resistance to dismiss them for 199 off 55.3 overs with figures of five for 33.

Elsewhere, Walsall skipper Chris Boroughs also put in a captain's innings making another century at Himley as his side edged to 203-8.

But the total was not enough to stop Himley grabbing a four-wicket win.

Leamington Spa limped to 94 all out at home to Old Hill. The visitors finished on 159 to record a 65-run victory, thanks to Mo Sheikh who took six wickets.

In the First Division, Water Orton, who have been the front runners throughout the summer, received a severe reminder that the title chase is a marathon not a sprint when they were hammered by Shrewsbury.

Having either occupied first or second place in the table Water Orton looked to be coasting before coming up against the Shropshire outfit.

Shrewsbury batted first and, in their 55 overs, made 270-7 thanks to finie innings by Mark Davies (50) and Ed Foster who fell just four runs short of a century.

James Gale then took up the ball and bludgeoned the water Orton batsmen into submission finishing with figures of 4-27 as the favourites collapsed to 126 all out in just 46.1 overs.