Kadeer Ali, the former England A batsman and brother of Moeen, made 83 for Birmingham Cricket League Premier Division leaders West Bromwich Dartmouth to lay foundations in their top of the table clash with second placed Brockhampton.
Ali opened with Warwickshire leg spinner Basit Zaman who was in ebullient form with a whirlwind innings of 43 from 20 balls including three fours and four sixes.
The pair put on 59 for the first wicket and when Zaman departed, Ali had contributed just 15 runs to the partnership. In total he faced 158 deliveries with six fours and a six to steer Dartmouth to 253 for seven in 55 overs with Zeeshan Asif adding 39 for Dartmouth and Brockhampton all-rounder Chris Boroughs picking up 3-64.
Brockhampton replied with 201 for six from 52 overs, skipper Ben Stebbings scoring 87 and Nick Powell finishing unbeaten on 27 for Brockhampton for a winning draw which kept West Bromwich Dartmough on top and saw Brockhampton drop to third place due to Berkswell's winning draw against Kidderminster Victoria.
Opening batsman Mark Best scored a superb 114 for Berkswell as they amassed 289 for six against Kidderminster for whom skipper Jonathan Wright took 5-82. Nick James hit 56 and Dominic Ostler 48 not out in a Berkswell total which proved beyond the visitors who finished on 233 for six.
Staffordshire all-rounder Michael Hill was unbeaten on 91 at the close and Andy Siwicki scored 41 for Kidderminster, while Tom Milnes, on his return to League bowling action, took 3-20.
The match between bottom club Himley and fourth placed Knowle & Dorridge was the only one affected by the weather, with the home side having reached 73 for two, in 24 overs, in response to K & D’s 282 for six.
Alex Phillips hit 102, Aussie Michael Hill made 51 and Derbyshire’s Richard Johnson scored 46 for K & D who looked as though they were heading for a winning draw prior to the premature end to the game.
Kenilworth Wardens moved up to fifth place with a comprehensive six wicket victory over Walsall, a result that leaves the Gorway side in the bottom two. Dan Wood (5-56) and Sitansu Kotak (4-9) combined to send Walsall packing for 118, the only resistance coming from Alex McChristie (38 not out).
Scott Stenning’s 46 eased Wardens to an early finish. Reigning Champions Shrewsbury continue to struggle and they are now five points above the danger zone after a three wicket defeat to Barnt Green, who have moved up to sixth place. Tom Cox (36) top scored in Shrewsbury’s total of 188 for nine with Tom Brown (4-29) and Andy Sutton (3-44) among the wickets for Barnt Green.
Although Elliot Green took 4-49 for Shrewsbury, 51 from Nathan Newport, 30 from Luke Radford and 28 from Tom Burton saw Barnt Green to their first win of the season in the 55 over format.
Dorridge climbed out of the relegation zone with a four wicket win over Warwickshire rivals Walmley, who were dismissed for 145, despite a dogged 54 from Danial Chaudhry. Andy Wing took 3-21 before an unbeaten 41 from debutant Saqib Akbar and 31 from Aaron Thomason saw Dorridge to a much needed victory. Shozair Ali was the pick of the Walmley attack, finishing with 3-44.