The mouth-watering top of the Birmingham Premier Division table clash between joint leaders Berkswell and West Bromwich Dartmouth had swung in Berkswell's favour when the weather intervened to bring the game to a premature end.
Batting first, after losing the toss, Dartmouth were shot out for 117 with former Leicestershire and Warwickshire all-rounder Darren Maddy taking 5-30 on his return to the side following coaching commitments at Solihull School.
Current Warwickshire seamer Tom Milnes continued his rehabilitation from a long-term shoulder injury with 3-5 and ex-Leicestershire paceman Dave Brignull took 2-21. Without 34 from Dan Bassett and 33 from Basit Zaman, the Dartmouth card would have been far worse!
In reply, Berkswell were waltzing to an easy victory on 80 without loss from 18.2 overs when the rain arrived to prevent any further play. Mark Best was unbeaten on 54 and James Neale was 25 not out but instead of being 24 points clear of Dartmouth, Berkswell only lead by virtue of the four bowling bonus points they earned.
It was a similar tale, elsewhere, apart from at Walsall’s Gorway ground, where reigning Champions Shrewsbury showed a glimpse of their real capabilities by crushing the hosts by 147 runs. Ed Foster (64), Anthony Parker (47 not out), Rob Foster (42) and Stephen Barnard (40) helped Shrewsbury to 225 for eight, in 55 overs, with Walsall’s Paul Byrne taking 4-74.
In reply, Walsall slumped to 10 for three but Byrne held firm with 30 before Sam Griffiths stepped up to take 4-16 as Walsall crashed to 78 all out with Stephen Barnard snapping up 3-19. This victory lifts Shrewsbury out of the bottom two but bottom club Himley were unable to follow them as they came away from a rain affected match at Barnt Green with a losing draw.
Worcestershire’s Tom Kohler-Cadmore hit 65 as Himley scored 171 for nine in 38 overs with three wickets each for Josh Poysden (3-29) and Simon Mugava (3-30). In reply, after further overs were lost to rain, Barnt Green were faced with a target of 110 for a winning draw and cruised to 120 for five thanks to the efforts of Will Baker (36), Sam Cheshire (29 not out) and Nathan Newport (27).
Danny Smith was the most successful Himley bowler with 3-27. At Station Road, the match between Knowle & Dorridge and Kenilworth Wardens was reduced to 49 overs per side and K & D raced to 249 for three before declaring after 45 overs.
Alex Phillips (83), Michael Hill (81 not out) and Richard Johnson (35) were in the runs but the Wardens reply was halted after just one over with the total on 8 without loss. The weather, also, had a major say in the game between Walmley and Brockhampton, even though it started on time.
The first stoppage came after 18 overs and, after a lengthy delay, a further 18 overs were possible which resulted in a Walmley total of 118 for five from 36 overs. Navdeep Poonia was unbeaten on 46 and 16 years-old opening batsman Jamie Harrison scored 37 on his League debut.
Chris Boroughs picked up a couple of wickets for Brockhampton before rain won the day. The match between Kidderminster Victoria and Dorridge was abandoned without a ball being bowled after a torrential storm prior to the start.