CHAMPIONS Redditch duly wrapped up the Worcestershire County League title with a Duckworth Lewis System 40 run success at Hereford side Burghill, Tillington and Weobley.

The result has given Redditch an unassailable 43 point lead at the top of the table with one game still remaining.

It means Redditch will return to Birmingham League cricket next season after an absence of 11 years and delighted skipper Russell Southwick said: "We've already got the basis of a very good side but we'll be looking to strengthen the side during the winter months. They'll be no let up.

"In the meantime, we'll be looking to finish the season properly when we entertain Colwall on Saturday."

Redditch had cause to be thankful they were playing in Hereford as the rest of the Division One programme was completely washed out through rain.

But Redditch didn't escape entirely as they were put into bat after a delayed start and reached 208 for nine off a reduced 40 overs.

Southwick said: "The wicket wasn't the best. It had been covered for the past two days and when the covers came off, we had to wait for the wicket to dry out a bit.

"Had I won the toss, I wouldn't have batted first, but that didn't seem to bother our opener Ollie Mason who got us off to a flying start with a quickfire 30.

"Brandon Weal then scored 45 and put us on the front-foot as we reached over 70 from the first 10 overs.

"When Burghill batted, we had to come off for a half an hour within a couple of overs.

"As a result, they were given a revised target of 136 to win from 28 overs.

"They started really well, but once they'd lost a couple of wickets, they just crumbled to 96 all out after 19 overs.

"Waqas Ali was almost unplayable and bowled ridiculously well to claim five for 31, taking his total of league wickets for the season to 52.

Greg Chinn picked up another three wickets, Ghulam Moyhuddin got two and Haris Ali one.

"After the game we were presented with the league trophy and we stayed behind for a bit as some of the lads had travelled by minibus, which was just as well as it took us an hour-and-a-half to get there.

"I also want to thank our sponsors ironmongerydirect and cruise.co.uk

"Their support has been vital to us this season and played no small part in helping us achieve what we have done."