Stenning lays the platform for a final assault on top-flight return

Wardens’ 12th win of the season extended their unbeaten run to 16 matches and also took them a step closer to confirming promotion to the Premier League.

Victories against third-placed Wellington and fourth-placed Smethwick over the holiday will now confirm their return to the Birmingham Premier League’s top flight after a three-year absence.

Stenning arrived at the crease after Nick Seager had blasted seven fours and two sixes in a typically powerful 42, and proceeded to bat through the remainder of the innings.

He added 60 with Keith Bell (30), then 63 with Sitanshu Kotak (25), before skipper Martin Donald (37 not out) joined his predecessor in a breezy unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 72.

This meant the hosts closed their 50-over allocation with a formidable 245 for three, despite the best efforts of Neil Smith (0-25) and Tom Warner (2-43).

After the early loss of Shabaz Alam, Mark and Paul Best added 70 relatively untroubled runs for Spa’s second wicket.

However, Paul’s run out by Kotak for 34, and the immediate dismissal of Lee Hopkins, reduced the chase to 77 for three, after which Wardens’ spinners gradually took control.

Udit Talati’s tidy spell returned two for 31, while Kotak’s two wickets included opener Mark Best, who battled hard for his 51 before being seventh out with the score at 147.

Ali Wilkinson (2-48) duly mopped up the tail as Leamington were dismissed in the 41st over for 175.

Tom Ballinger claimed five for 48 to hurry Wardens 2nds to a crushing 140-run victory over Eastnor.

The teenage leg-spinner ripped through the Herefordshire side’s middle order to dismiss them for 169, after some consistent batting, led by Andy Whitehall’s fluent 85, had seen the visitors post a substantial 309 for five.

In extending their recent winning run to four games, Wardens moved ahead of Bromsgrove into the second promotion spot with five games remaining, all of which will be played in a win/lose format.

Whitehall, who struck three sixes and eight fours in his fine knock, added 153 for the second wicket with Sunjay Sharma, who also struck some powerful blows in his 65.

James Madley (36 not out), Jack Sorrell (23) and Fred Rex (29 not out) ensured Wardens took full advantage of their good start to post their biggest total of the season.

Ballinger and Nick Whiting (2-14) then combined to ensure there were no slip-ups after tea.

Josh Emery (40) and Tom Hurrell (25) made some inroads for the hosts, but Wardens’ six-man attack always held the upper hand as Eastnor were dismissed in the 49th over.