Barnt Green close on a high
Another stirling performance from skipper Dougie Brown
Barnt Green’s Premier Division title celebrations were put on ice for 24 hours while last day opponents Shrewsbury were winning the ECB National Club Knock-Out Competition against Cambridge Granta at Derby.
Shrewsbury skipper Ed Foster lead his side to a memorable three wicket success, with two balls to spare, with an unbeaten 98 and last year’s Champions would finish runners-up if they defeated their successors at Cherry Hill Road, the following day.
However, Barnt Green were not to be denied and pulled off a 21 run victory that meant they went through the season with just one blemish on their record, a defeat to West Bromwich Dartmouth who were also the only side to lose to Smethwick.
Richard Wilkinson (65) and Nathan Newport (45) took Barnt Green to 205 for nine before Shrewsbury responded with 185.
Ed Foster carried on from the previous day with 64 and Shrewsbury were well placed on 110 for three before Dougie Brown (4-38) stepped up to take a hat-trick to bring the Champions back into the game.
Having taken the first Shrewsbury wicket, Andy Sutton (3-49) returned to finish off the tail and Barnt Green secured another victory which increased their lead at the top of the table to 65 points at the finish.
At the other end of the table Moseley were condemned to relegation even though they pulled off a resounding 96 run victory over Wellington, the side that currently lies in second place and can only be denied silverware by their Shropshire neighbours.
Huw Jones scored 45 and skipper Abdul Hafeez made 40 in a Moseley total of 226 for nine declared in 48 overs. Bilal Shafayat took 5-70 but Wellington collapsed to 130 all out as Fred Eburah displayed some end of season form with 4-56.
Moseley’s final points total of 230 is the highest recorded by a side relegated from the Premier Division and they would have been safe had Smethwick done them a favour by defeating Kidderminster Victoria.
This was not to be as the bottom Club’s dismal season ended on a depressingly familiar low note crashing to a 10 wicket loss after they struggled to 158 for eight in 55 overs.
A fifth wicket stand of 94 between Arif Mahmood (44) and Harshad Patel (42) improved Smethwick’s position from 17 for four but their eventual total was easily overtaken by makeshift openers Mark Mansell (76 not out) and Andrew Kimberlin (60 not out).
The other three matches involved sides jostling for mid-table positions and the best of the lot was between Himley and Knowle & Dorridge, who will finish in third and fifth place, respectively if Shrewsbury lose at Barnt Green.
Ben Smith (102) and Chris Tranter (54) eased Himley to 270 for eight, despite 4-44 from Neil Coley and K & D responded with 245 all out, thanks to a partnership of 61 for the eighth wicket and 58 for the last wicket, inspired by Captain Jamie Spires (86).
Earlier in the innings, Sam Reddish hit 41, and on a day when most skippers lead from the front, Stuart Wedge picked up 4-82 for Himley.
In a rain ruined match at Gorway, Walsall earned a winning draw against nearest neighbours West Bromwich Dartmouth, a result that sees them finish in seventh place and the visitors drop to tenth place, seven points clear of Moseley.
Kadeer Ali hit 70 as Dartmouth were dismissed for 170 with Walsall Captain Paul Byrne picking up 4-28. Restricted to a 25 over reply, due to a number of rain breaks, Walsall finished on 109 for five with Tim Maxfield hitting 57.
Alex Phillips continued his good form with 131 in Leamington’s total of 263 for six against Wolverhampton with support from his leader Rob Williams who made 41.
In reply, an unbeaten 90 from Simon Lycett steered Wolverhampton to 215 for seven and a final position of sixth in the table. There were three wickets apiece for Faisal Khalid and Paul Best but Leamington were denied the victory that would have taken them above Walsall and Wolverhampton and they had to settle for eighth place in the table.
