Smethwick ease into leading pack with top double!

FIVE clubs are separated by just four points at the head of the table as the Birmingham and District Premier League switches formats for the first time this season ahead of next Saturday's round-six action.

- By PAUL SMITH

The Bank Holiday weekend's big eye-catchers were defending champions Smethwick, who eased into this group by clinching back-to-back wins against Moseley and Berkswell by thumping margins.

Monday's nine-wicket win at Meeting House Lane was secured by a thrilling unbeaten hundred from teenage prospect Isaac Mohammed.

Chasing a DLS-adjusted 151 in 30 overs, Isaac smashed ten fours and six sixes in his brilliant 73-ball 104 not out as the visitors raced home with nearly ten overs remaining.

Fresh from his ton against Zimbabwe, England Lions’ Dan Mousley had earlier marked his first league cricket for a couple of years with a half-century as Berkswell closed on 190 for nine from 45.3 overs. Gurbaj Singh claimed two for eight from seven miserly overs for the defending champions.

There was no doubt about the headline news story of the day, how-ever, as Harborne’s veteran former Barnt Green seamer Andy Sutton smashed the last ball of the game for six to clinch his new club's thrilling two-wicket home win over his long-time ex-employers.