Birmingham Premier Division leaders West Bromwich Dartmouth increased their lead at the top of the table to 15 points after they emerged with a three wicket victory from their match at Kenilworth Wardens.
Batting first, after losing the toss, Wardens raced to 69 for one before they lost Keith Bell for 15. Nick Seager crashed 65 from 45 balls in an explosive innings that included two sixes and nine fours but Wardens fell away from 107 for three to 142 all out in a match restricted to 32 overs per side after a delayed start.
Basit Zaman did most of the damage with 6-31, supported by 2-40 from Zeesh Asif and it was Zaman (43) who appeared to have set Dartmouth on course for a routine win. Sitanshu Kotak (4-38) had other ideas and it took an unbeaten 20 from 12 balls from Hafeez Khan to clinch the win with four balls in hand.
Kotak inspired a collapse from 86 for one to 121 for seven before Khan came to the rescue. Earlier in the innings, 26 from 27 balls from Kadeer Ali and 20 from Rawlston Tappin laid the foundations for Dartmouth’s charge to victory but it needed Khan’s effort and an unbeaten 11 from Junead Zaman to see their side home.
Brockhampton have moved up into second place following a 51 run win over Himley, who have slumped to the foot of the table. In a match reduced to 23 overs per side, Brockhampton were in deep trouble at 6 for three but a determined 47 from Chris Boroughs (one six and five fours) and a breezy 34 from Will Barrett (one six and four fours) took the Herefordshire side to a vulnerable looking 109 for six at the close.
In reply, Himley eased to 17 before they lost their first wicket but immediately lost three without further addition. They then lost wickets in pairs at 29, 50 and 58, the final wicket falling with two balls remaining! Jamie McIlroy returned figures of 3-22 and there were two wickets apiece for Boroughs, Nick Powell and Callum Stewart.
At The Lant, Berkswell spurned an opportunity to remain in second place when they fell ten runs short against local rivals Dorridge. The visitors, who totalled 142 for eight, owed much to Iftikhar Ahmed who came to the wicket with the score on 98 for eight and smashed an unbeaten 36 off 17 balls including two fours and three sixes.
For Berkswell, Muhammed Ahmed took 3-36, while Nick James and Tahir Ahmed picked up two wickets each. At 61 without loss and 109 for three, a home win looked to be a formality before Iftikhar Ahmed (3-28) and Andrew Wing (3-29) stepped up to reduce them to 132 for nine at the close.
Shrewsbury’s difficult start to the season continued as they hung on for a draw at fellow early season strugglers Kidderminster Victoria at Chester Road. The home side raced to 175 for six in 32 overs thanks to a third wicket partnership of 90 between Michael Hill (65) and Craig Wood (53). Sam Griffiths (3-36) and Charlie Morris (3-48) were the successful bowlers for Shrewsbury who, soon, lost early wickets to Gareth Williams (4-22) in their reply.
By the time the overs ran out, the 2013 Champions were hanging on at 98 for nine, opening batsman Ed Foster carrying his bat for 45. Derbyshire’s Richard Johnson hit 53 off 40 balls as Knowle & Dorridge made a flying start against Walsall before Pakistani Test star Umar Amin took four successive wickets to halt their progress.
Amin finished with 4-48 in K & D’s total of 149 for nine but his early dismissal in Walsall’s response swung the game towards the home side. At 63 for five, a home victory looked most likely but an unbeaten 49 from Jack Biddulph, in 41 balls, saw Walsall finish on 135 for eight.
The match between Barnt Green and Walmley was abandoned without a ball being bowled but it is a tribute to groundsmen around the League that so much cricket was played after early morning thunderstorms followed a night of torrential rain.