HALESOWEN’s promotion destiny is in their own hands heading into their final two fixtures of the season.

They saw off Old Elizabethans in a nail-biting encounter at the weekend to stay third in the standings with the race to reach the ECB Birmingham and District League Division One hotting up.

They chased down a total of 185 with just two balls to spare, with Jamie Harris (61) playing a leading role with support from Ed Kilbee (30), Dylan Ross-Watt (27*) and Eddie Rhodes (16).

Ross-Watt also starred with the ball with 3-44, whilst Richard Brooker (2-35) and Hassan Akram (3-45) put in handy displays.

They will now face a huge trip to Penkridge on Saturday (12 noon), and skipper Brooker said: “It wasn’t our best performance by a long way, but we have kept up our winning streak and at this stage of the season that is all that matters.”

The Second XI also triumphed in a tense finale with Walmley, a victory which has seen them crawl off the bottom of the table.

Having been rooted to the foot of the standings for 10 weeks, they now have a mathematical chance of survival with a home game against Astwood Bank on Saturday (12.30) followed by a clash with Brockhampton to complete the season.

Aamir Farooque hit 65 whilst Harry Kitchen (42), Scott Jones (31) and Richard Cox (30*) helped them reach a total of 231-7.

Walmsley were coasting in reply and needed just 41 from their final nine overs, but some tight bowling and an excellent last over from Jones saw Halesowen sneak victory by just two runs.

The Third XI lost to Tenbury whilst the Fourth XI were beaten by Rushwick, and they will both face Claverley home and away respectively this weekend (both 1pm).