STOURBRIDGE still remain in with a shout of promotion from Birmingham League Division Three after a mixed Bank Holiday.

The Amblecote side picked up a five-wicket win at home to Penn on Saturday but were then saved by the weather against Bridgnorth 48 hours later.

It means Stour sit fifth, 12 points off second place and are locked in a four-way battle for the final promotion spot.

Saturday’s clash with Penn was one for the bowlers to savour from the very first over, when Stour’s Matt Bradley had Vikul Lal caught for a duck.

He and fellow opening bowler Jitesh Patel made light work of the Penn line-up, the latter claiming a superb 6-13 from 14 overs, while Bradley took 3-32, as the visitors were bombed out for just 53 in 29.1 overs.

With storm clouds gathering, Stour set off looking for a quick victory in the run chase but found themselves in trouble thanks to the pace of Penn’s Adam Quiney.

Alex Bingham was caught behind for, Steve Game was lbw for 16 and when Stour top scorer this season Audy Alexander went, the pressure was on the promotion-chasing side.

A deluge arrived just after the wickets of skipper Richard Bradley and Josh Banks, with Stour four short of victory.

Thankfully the rain ceased and after mopping up was complete, Matt Bradley and Patel managed to bring the hosts home in the 18th over.

Monday’s game was reduced to 45 overs because of a delayed start and batting at the War Memorial proved little easier.

This time Stour were asked to bat first and soon found themselves in trouble when Matt Bradley was dismissed cheaply.

Alexander struck 35 but wickets continued to tumble at the other end. Josh Banks scored an important 37 as he helped guide the tail and Stour to 128-9 from their overs.

In the end, the weather had the final say, as Bridgnorth reached 35-1 in their reply before more rain forced an abandonment.

Stour travel to Wednesbury this Saturday.