TENBURY missed the chance of virtually tying up the Worcestershire League Division 4 crown when they went down heavily at Stourbridge Social, the only other realistic candidate for the title.

Tenbury are still top of the table, five points clear of Stourbridge with two games to go. They still need 15 points, however to ensure a top-two finish and promotion.

Tenbury made a disastrous start to their innings after they lost a crucial toss and failed to deal with the swinging ball. Opening bowlers Waqas Ahmed (5-49) and Usman Riaz (2-45) ripped out the top and middle order, with Alex Mason (29) the only batsman to survive until he was narrowly run out going for a second run.

The fact that Tenbury pushed the total past 150 was down to an unbeaten 59 from number nine batsman Ed Corfield, plus solid defence from Jack Farrar. The partnership was eventually broken by another run out.

Stourbridge started cautiously, but a wicket for Bruce Mason brought Richard Milner to the wicket. He plundered the Tenbury attack and, with solid batting at the other end, Social cruised home in the 32nd over for the loss of two wickets.

Milner blasted 84 off 77 balls with 15 fours and two sixes.

􀁥 Tenbury 2nd claimed a winning draw when they entertained their Stourbridge Social counterparts to secure the 2nd XI Division 4 title with two games in hand.

They lead second-placed Barnards Green by 49 points, with 48 on offer.

Tenbury posted a total of 199-7 when they batted first at Penlu and, after a tense spell, took late wickets. In a tight finish they restricted the visitors to 198-8.

Kier Sellars (43), Chris Giles (60) and David Hunt (24) batted well at the top of the order for Tenbury and late double- figure contributions from Mark Yarranton and Jim Yeomans pushed the final total towards 200.

While opener Jonathan Preston was at the wicket, Stourbridge looked to be heading for a win. Sellars (2-33) eventually bowled him for 90 and Adrian Edwards came back into the attack (3-48) to keep a tight rein on the later batsmen.

THE Tenbury 2nd Xl squad which has won the Worcestershire County League 2nd Xl Division 4 Championship, back row (left to right) Alan Taylor (Umpire), Neil Crump, Ade Edwards, David Hunt, Jim Yeomans, Kier Sellars, Scott Sellars, Darren Ingram; front: Darren Thompson, Ian Taylor, Steve Giles, Gareth Edwards, Chris Giles. Others squad members not in picture: Derek James and Lewis Giles.