Game of the day in week nine of the top division of the Birmingham League was between 2021 GW Trophy winners Barnt Green and 2020 league winners Berkswell.
Asked to bat first, Barnt Green scored 269 for four thanks to a late burst from Warwickshire’s Matt Lamb (92, 63 balls). Berkswell fell 44 runs short but secured the draw with former Bears all-rounder Ateeq Javid top scoring with 83. Darrell Williams was pick of the bowlers for Barnt Green with four for 70.
Leamington and Smethwick have both started the season strongly but it was the latter who comfortably came out on top after skittling Leamington for 108 (Gurinder Singh (six for 27). Smethwick secured a seven wicket win inside 25 overs.
Kidderminster elected to bat first at Moseley and scraped to 151 for eight in their 55 overs, Usman Awan the pick of the Moseley bowlers with four for 27). However, an excellent bowling performance from Chris Steele (five for 24) secured a 41 run victory for Kidderminster.
A tight game at Ombersley saw visitors Knowle & Dorridge win the toss and bat first, scoring 186 for seven. In response, Ombersley fell agonisingly short, 183 for nine in a game where both sides had a chance to win right up to the final ball!
In another drawn game, Shrewsbury were asked to bat first by Walsall and scored a healthy 252, Matthew Swift making 73, whilst Jordan Bulpitt took six for 68. In reply, Walsall finished on 220 for eight thanks to 19-year-old Vriitya Aravind’s 125.
West Bromwich Dartmouth continued their poor start to the season when they lost heavily to Shifnal. Asked to bat first, Shifnal made 194 thanks to half centuries from Joe Leach and Robert Clarke. Dartmouth struggled from the start and were eventually bowled out for 99, Mitchell Stanley taking four for 25.
In Division Two, Harborne elected to bat at Bromsgrove and made 267 for five thanks to a brisk unbeaten 90 from Tejas Wagle. Despite a positive start, Bromsgrove were bowled out for 160, 107 short after Swapnil Gugale took five for 19.
Barnards Green hit a daunting 361 for five at Dorridge where George Rhodes (105) and Ryan Tongue (122) put on 217 for the first wicket. Dorridge were then bowled out for 194 (Joe Dodd 73, Josh Blunt four for 52.
Himley beat Wolverhampton by four wickets. Electing to bat first, Wolves scored 208 for nine (Charlie Home 65), which Himley chased successfully inside 52 overs thanks to Bilal Hussain’s 61.
Halesowen (178 for two) comfortably beat Kenilworth Wardens (177 all out). Nick Seager scored 65 for Wardens against an attack led by Harry Kitchen (five for 49) before Harry Baddams saw Halesowen fome with an unbeaten 71.
Oswestry grabbed a much needed win at home to Wem who they bowled out for 104 (Alex Selby five 39) before reaching 108 for 4.
Bridgnorth (284 all out) beat bottom of the table Pelsall (200 all out) with Simon Gregory scoring 93 for Bridgnorth and Jujhar Johal 94 for Pelsall.
Complete Cricket Player of the Week – Matt Lamb (Barnt Green & Warwickshire) 93 from 63 balls.
More detailed information can be found on the Birmingham League website: https://www.birminghamleague.org/birmingham-district-premier-cricket-league
