Liam Banks dazzled with bat and ball as Tamworth strengthened their place at the top of Birmingham and District First Division.

Liam Banks dazzled with bat and ball as Tamworth strengthened their place at the top of Birmingham and District First Division.

Yet to lose a game, Tamworth bowled out Barnards Green for 153 with Banks bowling figures of 9.5-0-30-4, taking a catch and getting a run out.

With the bat, Banks led the response clinically by firing a stylish century off 65 balls (10 4s 5 6s) that helped secure a comfortable nine wicket win.

Chris Wright impressed with the ball as Dorridge defeated Wolverhampton by a solitary wicket.

Choosing to bowl, Dorridge dismissed the visitors for 104 with Wright bowling excellent figures of 9.4-2-15-5. In their reply, the hosts reached their target in 32 overs despite reaching 48-1 and falling to 97-9.

Shrewsbury continued their impressive form with a 123 run victory at Kenilworth Wardens.

Put into bat at Glasshouse Park, the visitors were bowled out for 186, whilst the hosts could only muster 63 in their reply. George Panayi, who is returning from injury, struck 23 of 46 balls (2 4s 1 6) and finished with bowling figures of (5-2-15-2) for the Shropshire side who remain top after six games by 25 points.

Matt Lamb maintained his hot bat by striking 55 off 87 (4 4s) in Barnt Green’s losing draw at Ombersley.

The away side opted to field first and were forced to chase down 282 to win, despite Lamb’s bowling seven overs for just 23 runs. The visitors in their response mustered 187/8 with Lamb top scoring and Ryan Sidebottom, who is returning from a side strain, making eight.

Meanwhile, Andrew Umeed’s W.B Dartmouth have dropped down a place to third after losing to local rivals Smethwick at Sandwell Park by four wickets.

Umeed made 29 (2 4s) as the hosts reached 185/8 in their full allocation of 55 overs and the Scotsman bowled two overs for seven as Smethwick reached their target in 48.4 overs.

Elsewhere, Alex Mellor was removed by former Bear Grant Thornton for six in Walsall’s defeat to Berkswell, whilst Alex Thomson made seven as Moseley fell to an eight wicket home loss to Knowle and Dorridge.