CRICKET: A break at last for Stratford; birmingham league.

Byline: LEE McLaughlan

STRATFORD have been given a lifeline in their fight against relegation.

The reigning Premier Division champions, who suffered a seven-wicket defeat at Moseley on Saturday, have had their 14-point penalty reduced to just four.

The management board have reviewed the case and held discussions with the club after they were docked the points for calling off their match against Halesowen at 9.30am nine days ago.

A statement from the board said: "The Board accepts that there was no suggestion of connivance by Stratford to cancel the match because they were short of players and the club has accepted that their original decision proved to be a mistake.

"The club is fully behind the Management Board's efforts to ensure that the customs and conventions of the League are continued and they have apologised to Halesowen and the Board for their misguided actions, last Saturday.

"As a result of the review, the 10 point penalty imposed on Stratford, has been suspended for 12 months. The deduction of 4 points earned from the game will stand. The Management Board and the Club now consider that the matter is closed."

Meanwhile, Stratford failed to help their cause on the field as Moseley cruised to an easy victory.

The batsmen found the going tough against the title-chasing outfit as they were dismissed for 162, 32 of those coming from extras as only Huw Jones and Wayne Killian made it into the 20's.

Moseley had little trouble polishing off the total as an unbeaten 86 from Wasim Khan saw the hosts home with more than 20 overs to spare.

Coventry & North Warwickshire did their survival chances the world of good, despite only securing a winning draw over fellow relegation contenders Aston Unity.

Inspired by knocks of 109 from vice captain Jason Pyott and 56 from Sarfraz Pathan, C & NW declared on 254-5.

But Unity dug deep as they batted out the 57 overs but fell well short of C&NW's total as they closed on 197-7.

Kenilworth Wardens thrust themselves back into the promotion race in Division One win with a four-wicket win over rivals Sutton Coldfield.

Sitanshu Kotak laid the foundations for victory as his haul of 5-66, helped restrict the visitors to 167.

Wardens skipper Dave Barr guided the home side to victory with an unbeaten 58.

Leamington also returned to the winners enclosure with an eight-wicket verdict over Harborne.

The visitors amassed a mammoth 274-4, Rajeev Nayyar hitting an unbeaten 101.

But Leamington secured the win with eight balls to spare thanks to a brilliant unbeaten 140 from Dave Hawkes and 72 from Rob Williams.

Bedworth's bid to avoid the drop received another set-back as they suffered a 71-run defeat at Bromsgrove.

Chasing 256 for victory, Bedworth were all out for 184, despite an unbeaten 63 from skipper Heath Parnell and 40 from Steve Friswell.

In Division Two East, Highway's 188 all out was not enough for them to follow-up last week's win over Water Orton as went down by three wickets at new leaders Studley.

CAPTION(S):

CAUGHT ON THE HOP: Coventry & North Warwickshire's Safraz Pathan needs a bit of lift to fend off a delivery from the Aston Unity attack during the sides' drawn match at Binley Road