HALESOWEN captain Alexei Kervezee is targeting a late promotion push despite having to hold on for a losing draw against Bridgnorth last Saturday.

The visitors to Seth Somers Park closed on 266-4, which included a solid century from Ryan Lockley (104). Opening batsman Ian Gregory began the innings with 54 to lay the platform for a target that proved beyond Halesowen, who drop one place to fourth.

They finished on 225-8 as Masharraf Shazad scored 103 from 144 balls but Halesowen were never in the hunt after Adam Quiney (4-49) took two early wickets.

Division One leaders Kidderminster are now 47 points clear at the top of the table after closest challengers Shifnal hung on for a draw. However, only 15 points separate Shifnal from eighth-placed Bridgnorth and any of the seven clubs behind Kidderminster could clinch the second promotion place if they come up with a decent run of form in the 50 over format.

Kervezee said: "We weren’t at our best in a number of facets of the game and the change to the win/lose format next week might just suit us during the run-in to the end of the season.

"That said, we are a dangerous side who have key performers popping up with match changing contributions and again today we saw that in Mushy (Masharraf Shazad). Promoted to number three again he showed his talent with the bat and to be honest he held us together in a run chase that was just too much for us.

"To be fourth with seven games left is a nice spot to be in and we know what we have to do now over the coming weeks. It's tight at the top and any slip ups could be costly but we are positioned well we just have to win those mini battles in the coming weeks."

The second team have also slipped to third after defeat away at Coventry and North Warwick. Batting first they conjured up a working total of 191 with contributions from Williams (38) and Hutchinson (37) but were undone by veteran spinner Mark Lilley. Having reduced Cov to 127-7 the game looked like it was there for the taking but Cook (54*) had other ideas as their opponents squeezed home by three wickets with overs to spare. Off spinner Greening with 4-63 being the leading bowler.

The third team march on and well away from the bottom two with victory over Claverley.

Hales firsts will now go to Bromsgrove this Saturday (noon start).

The second welcome Bromsgrove seconds to Seth Somers Park, the thirds go to Astwood Bank thirds, and the fourths take on West Malvern at Earls High.