Water Orton opened up a 20-point lead at the top of the Division One table as they cruised to a ninewicket win at 2001 League champions Stratford.

Ed Harris and Clifton Folkes both bagged four wickets as Stratford were bowled out in the final over for 152.

And it then required an superb unbeaten century stand for the secondwicket between Greg Hunt (61) and Dan Davies to see the visitors safely home to victory with 23 overs to spare.

Second-placed Kidderminster Victoria slipped to a place third after crashing to a formidable 106-run defeat away at Shrewsbury.

It was the Shropshire side's overseas professional, Tony Mullins, who effectively ended Kidderminster's chances and proved the difference between the two sides.

Mullins hammered and innings of 108 in his side's total of 254-5, and was ably supported by Mark Davies (44) and Mark Lascelles (36 not out). The Australian then went on to take 5 for 43 as Kidder were bowled out for just 148, of which Nigel Davenport top-scored with 46.

The first Division's top four were all the way from home, with mixed fortunes.

Harborne also struggled as they were left hanging on at Sutton Coldfield.

Sutton's Sami Salman was in sparkling form with a 59-ball century in his side's 265 for eight. The first 50 came off a comparatively leisurely 44 balls, before he truly exploded into life with a second 50 from just 15 deliveries. He was well backed by 61 from Richard Dandy, while Mike Dean took four hits as Sutton just failed to force victory.

Of the main promotion contenders, Smethwick were the day's other winners as they claimed maximum points at doomed Cannock.

Imran Jamiel top-scored with 53, while Aniket Redkar (four for 27) and Andy Bryan (three for 26) were Smethwick's key men with the ball.

In the tightly-contested Second Division, leaders Studley lost at Penn and found themselves sliding all the way back down to six.

With just 21 points separating the top six, a few more such dramatic twists look on the cards. But, for now, Attock take over on top.

Overseas signing Saliem Toefy was the star of their 131-run win at Fordhouses, taking five for 44.

Neil Orton hit an unbeaten 119 and Richard Colyer made 62 as Tamworth moved into second with an eight-wicket win at fallen giants Wolverhampton. And Penn's eighth-wicket win at home to Studley was enough to take them third.

The top three in Division Three, Evesham, Aston Manor and Redditch, all lost. But there was no change at the top of the table.

Worcester's young Zimbabwean signing Waddington Mwayenga was the star of his side's unexpected win at Aston Manor with six for 77.

Australian Dan Turkich made 91 and took four for 55 in Beacon's 44-run win over Evesham while Penkridge skipper Toby Morrell made an unbeaten 98 and took three for 38 in his side's two-wicket win at home to Redditch.

But the best individual performance of the day in Division Three came from Aqsad Ali who hit an unbeaten 127 and took four for 44 in Coleshill's 132-run hammering of Moseley Ashfield.