LEAMINGTON Spa capitalised on a slip from leaders Harborne to seal their place in Birmingham & District Premier Division One next season, after beating already-relegated Tamworth on Saturday.
A straightforward nine-wicket win earned them an 11th win of the campaign, but with Harborne only picking up five points in a three-wicket defeat to eventual champions Oswestry, Spa jumped into second and earned promotion by just two points.
With the hosts batting first in the deciding game, Tamworth slipped to 7-3 after Josh Bowker (0) and Aaron Tomson (2) fell to Craig Miles (5-34), while Josh Rudge (2) was trapped lbw by Joe Midgley.
Number five Jason Jakeman (31) proved to be Tamworth’s only source of inspiration, helping clamber his side to 64-6 before his dismissal by the enigmatic Miles.
Ben Maddox (0) was gone from the very next ball, followed by Daniel Bowker (2) six balls later as the hosts’ struggles continued.
Edward Smith (22) did provide a source of inspiration alongside Scott Daly (14no) to carry Tamworth over the 100-run mark, though his intervention only served to delay the confirmation of an eventual defeat.
With a target of 118 set, Leamington lost opener Harrison Smith (3) to Bowker, but then recovered with a partnership of 112 between unbeaten duo Luke De Souza (64no) and captain Jonathan Wigley (47no) to seal victory and an eventual promotion.
