Whitchurch 1sts got back to winning ways in the Birmingham League's second division with a four-wicket win against a good Cannock side.
Having chosen to bowl first, Whitchurch made early inroads as pace-man Shazad Ali used the pitch brilliantly to take two for 22 in 11 overs, to reduce Cannock to 38 for two.
And despite some useful runs from a patient Liam Hickey (32) and a similarly gritty 30 by Richard Hewitt, Whitchurch used spin to rip through their middle-order.
Aqsad Ali picked up three for 45 and Ali Awan took two for 30 to keep Cannock down to 158 for eight at the end of their 55 overs.
 But Whitchurch's response got off to the worse possibly start, losing danger man Richie Oliver to the fourth ball of the innings.
However Simon Gregory was in unforgiving mood as he compiled a swift 41 before Maisam Hasnain chipped in with 25. Once both had gone, along with Awan, who made 24, Whitchurch were struggling at 102 for five before Shazad Ali won the game for Whitchurch.
He bludgeoned 41 off just 34 balls in an innings that included six fours and two sixes to take his side over the line to keep them in the title race as they finished up six wickets down.
"We really bowled well which set us up for the win and keeping them down to that total, we always felt we would take the points" said captain Hasnain.
"Every game is vital now because we don't want to leave ourselves lagging behind the two teams above us come the end of the season."
This weekend Whitchurch entertain second-placed Harborne in a must win game.
Whitchurch 2nds took their second win of the season with an 89 run win against Cannock 2nds.
 Batting first Whitchurch made a steady start, with Ed Watson-Jones (43) and Luke Tinsley (32) putting on 70 for the first wicket.
But it was a defiant knock from senior player Dave Fowles (47) along with some big hitting from Shaun Reynolds (25) that held the innings together, helping Whitchurch reach a competitive 207.
Cannock played aggressively early on though with Ben Bradley making a quick-fire 38.
But once he had departed to the spin bowling of Martin Williams (7-33), who bowled well on a turning pitch, Whitchurch never looked like losing and eventually Cannock were dismissed for 118.