Himley deal Barnt Green blow

Himley CC celebrated it's 125th Anniversary week by clinching a big eight wicket victory against Premier League leaders and pre-season favourites Barnt Green to blow the 2009 title race wide open.

Any one of five teams could still win the 2008 title and with another round of matches scheduled for Bank Holiday Monday and just 31 points separating the top five contenders, the results will be critical to their fortunes.

In damp conditions that favoured the bowlers Barnt Green had no answer to TP Singh (6-15) and Tim Heap (4-24) as they crumbled to 74 all out, before Singh earned his eighth Birmingham Midshires Man of the Match Award by steering Himley to victory with an unbeaten 52. .

Barnt Green’s demise, which earned them zero points, enabled reigning champions Walsall to move to within one point of the leaders, following a four wicket victory at home to Kidderminster Victoria.

It was a result that looked improbable at one time as the Gorway outfit crashed to 29 for six, in response to Kiddi’s 57 all out.

Mo Sheikh and Gareth Williams took three wickets apiece for Walsall but Arfan Khan went one better by cleaning up all six Walsall wickets before an unbroken stand of 33 between Andy Gray and Andy Miller saw their side through.

Gray’s unbeaten 26 and two wickets in the Kiddi’s innings earned him the Man of the Match Award.

Knowle & Dorridge crept into third place and, with Barnt Green to face in the last match of the season, have a real chance of winning the title.

Sam Reddish top scored with 79 as K & D hit 215 for eight at Leamington Spa, Jack Hawkes finishing with 4-63, for the home side who slipped to 127 all out, in reply.

Mark Lewis scored 45 but Will Mottram was the match winner for K & D taking 5-48.

Leamington remain level on points with West Bromwich Dartmouth who they visit on Monday after the Sandwell Park side crashed to 73 all out at Walmley.

Bhavik Patel (34) top scored in Walmley’s 166 for nine, before Man of the Match Lionel Baker (5-20) and Greg Ricketts (3-22) knocked the stuffing out of Dartmouth despite an unbeaten 39 from veteran Harshad Patel, who carried his bat through the innings.

Bottom club Shifnal breathed new life into their bid to escape relegation with a six wicket win in another low scoring match against Kenilworth Wardens.

Man of the Match Adam Shimmons (5-36) and Australian left-arm seamer Gary Putland (5-37) combined to dismiss Wardens for 86 then James Ralph hit 27 to secure a vital win for Shifnal.

Wolverhampton retain an outside chance of the title despite a disappointing 102 run defeat by Moseley who reached 140 for nine.

Indian all-rounder, Sairaj Bahutule took 4-46 but Wolverhamptons’ batsmen had no answer to Fred Eburah, who took 6-10, as Wolverhampton were routed for 38.