With weeks 4,5 & 6 of the Birmingham League Division 1 and 2 lost to the weather there has been little to report over the past month, but cricket returned in week 7 (29th May) with the 55 over win/lose/draw format now in place.
Week 7
Division One
Barnt Green were restricted to 155 thanks to 4-52 from Haseeb Gul. Jaques Banton scoring 49. In response Smethwick squeezed over the line with two wickets to spare. Andrew Sutton’s 4-51 in vain.
Knowle & Dorridge edged home against Kidderminster in a low scoring affair at Station Road. K&D were bowled out for 131 thanks to Ben Parker (5-44) but in response Kidderminster were skittled for 92. Neil Dexter doing the damage with 5-29.
Another game dominated by the bowlers came at Moseley who were bowled out for just 95 inside 43 overs by Shifnal thanks to 5-28 by Alex Riley. Remarkably Shifnal were then dismissed for just 71 with opening bowler, Jugdip Singh Nandra taking 5-13.
In the game between Ombersley and Berkswell a mixture of past and present Bears, Ryan Sidebottom (4-30) and Grant Thornton (3-8) combined to dismiss Ombersley for 71 and then Ateeq Javid (40*) made light work of the run chase easing home with seven wickets to spare.
The surprise package for 2021 are most certainly Leamington who defeated Shrewsbury by six wickets. Shrewsbury elected to bat first, scoring 168 with George Garrett (36*) anchoring the innings. Oliver Currill 4-37 for Leamington. Harrison Smith and Umar Siddique Khan both scored 59 to ease Leamington to victory.
West Bromwich Dartmouth hosted Walsall and were able to call upon the services of England International Moeen Ali. However it was his cousin Kabir Ali who scored the bulk of the runs (63) in Dartmouth’s 139. Jordan Bulpitt taking 6-31. Walsall reached the target five wickets down, Billy J Cox scoring 53*. Academy seamer Manraj Johal picked up 2-31.
Division Two
Wolverhampton were inserted by Bridgnorth scoring 204/8 in their allotted overs, which was more than enough as the hosts were rolled out for 132. Jack Stanley (51) & Charlie Home (4-26) the key performers for Wolves.
The match between Bromsgrove and Halesowen was reduced to 42 overs per side. Batting first Bromsgrove made 169/3 before restricting Halesowen to 147 for 8. Notable performances from Alex Milton (73*) and Freddie Fallows (5-51) for Bromsgrove.
Wem batted first against Dorridge scoring 196. Dorridge held on for the draw finishing 135 for eight. Martyn Davies (54) for Wem.
A tense game at Himley against Harborne resulted in the hosts scraping home by four runs. Batting first Himley scored 181 for six, with Oliver Westbury making 100*. Harborne fell agonisingly short on 177, despite 60 from Jasper Davidson. Ben Robinson taking 5-44 for Himley.
Kenilworth Wardens posted 193 after being asked to bat against Oswestry. Harry Johnson scoring 44 for Wardens, Warrick Fynn 5-53 for Oswestry. In reply Oswestry fell to 85 all out thanks to Derbyshire seamer George Scrimshaw (3-17).
In the game at Pelsall, Barnards Green bowled first and dismissed the hosts for just 89. Zain Ul-Hassan with a fantastic spell (7-17). Barnards Green made light work of the reply reaching 92 for four inside 15 overs.
Complete Cricket player of the week: Zain Ul-Hassan for Barnards Green (7-17).
Week 8
Division One
In a game featuring numerous past and present county players, West Bromwich Dartmouth asked Berkswell to bat first who managed 210 all out mainly thanks to Ateeq Javid (52), Dan Mousley (35) and Tom Milnes (41). Kabir Ali taking 3-57 for Dartmouth. In response, Ryan Sidebottom (4-44) and Nick James (3-36) combined to restrict West Brom to 206-9 just five runs short of victory. Kadeer Ali making 83.
Leamington batted first against Kidderminster scoring 220 in 55 overs. Oliver Currill continuing his good form with 61 off 39 balls. In reply Kidderminster scored 180 for 8 securing the draw. Youngster Callum Bennett scoring 58 for Kiddi, Wigley 4-34 for Leamington.
Knowle & Dorridge racked up 315 for six in their 55 overs against Moseley. Bears all-rounder Ethan Brookes scoring 115. However Moseley held on for the draw finishing 225 for nine.
Shifnal beat Ombersley by 77 runs. Chad Brandrick (76) and Robert Clarke (48*) helped Shifnal reach 247 before Shaun Lorimer (5-43) & Alex Renton (3-45) combined to dismiss Ombersley for 170. Hammond (70*) the only batsman offering any resistance.
Smethwick comfortably beat Shrewsbury by six wickets. Electing to bat first, Shrewsbury scrapped to 182 before Smethwick eased home with 14 overs to spare. Gurinder Singh (60*).
Asked to bat first against Walsall, Barnt Green amassed 326 for 5, Ed Pollock (49), Amrinder Brar (79) and William Baker (64 from 36). Walsall finished well short of the target on 204 for six, yet confirmed the draw mainly thanks to Billy-J Cox who scored 107*.
Division Two
Barnards Green won by six wickets in a high-scoring game against Bromsgrove who batted first scoring 259 for 9. Connor Smith (122) for Bromsgrove and George Rhodes (5-24) for Barnards Green. Ryan Tongue hit a magnificent unbeaten 156 off 129 for to secure the victory for Barnards Green.
Batting first Himley scored 278 for six against Bridgnorth with Oliver Westbury scoring another 100. Bridgnorth were agonisingly bowled out with two balls remaining of the match thanks to 5-43 from Jamie Turner.
Halesowen beat Dorridge resoundingly by 187 runs. After being asked to bat first Halesowen made 242 for nine. Former Worcestershire batter Alexei Kervezee scoring 73. James Rudge (4-15) and Charlie Morris (3-14) then ran through the Dorridge line-up, collapsing to 55 all out.
Harborne beat Pelsall by two wickets after the visitors elected to bat first scoring 183 all out. Sadrian Ward (71). Despite being 65/6 at one stage, Harborne managed to get over the line thanks to their lower middle order.
Kenilworth Wardens beat Wem by three wickets. Wem batted first scoring 209. Mohit Kale (59). In reply Zaryab Asif (66) and Leering (46) steered Wardens home.
Wolverhampton batted first against Oswestry making 268 for 8. Charlie Home (90) and Will Neild (114). In reply Oswestry were bowled out for 132. Charlie Home (7-33).
Complete Cricket player of the week: Ryan Tongue for Barnards Green (156 off 129 balls).
More detailed information can be found on the Birmingham League website: https://www.birminghamleague.org/birmingham-district-premier-cricket-league
