Ealing secure opening win

Former Glamorgan batsman David Hemp cracked 133 not out for Knowle & Dorridge as the National Club Championship got underway

Last year’s runners-up Ealing got off to a winning start as the first round of ECB National Club Championship matches took place this weekend.

Ealing recorded a 56-run victory over Ventnor from the Isle of Wight and will now take on another Southern Electric Premier League side in the shape of South Wilts.

National t20 champions Swardeston suffered a one-run defeat at Chingford in their first 45-over match, despite 101 from Jaden Hatwell.

Elsewhere, Alex Range compiled 140 - the highest score of the day - as South Hampstead chased down 308 to beat Woodford Wells, while Harrow Town also batted superbly as they recorded a two-wicket victory over Finchampstead, for whom Dan Lincoln struck 133 in a total of 316 for six.

Doncaster Town and Papplewick & Lindby each posted 191 in their match, with the former going through having lost fewer wickets than their opponents, and Smethwick progressed against Ticknall in the same manner.

Warmley beat Birmingham League rivals Walsall by one wicket after put on 26 runs for the last wicket. Sam Bates and Mark Russell needed six oFf the last over and with a Chinese cut and a boundary they managed to complete the job.

Other one-wicket wins were achieved by Moddershall against Bollington and Bexhill versus Hartley Country Club, while Liverpool Competition leading lights Ormskirk defeated Fulwood Broughton by a single run.

Aaron Jeavons had a great day scoring 77 runs for Wolverhampton and taking 5-37 in the win against Kidderminster.

Roll of honour

Batting

Bowling