K & D favourites despite defeat

The three week lay off for rain proved disastrous for Knowle & Dorridge who slumped to a seven wicket defeat at Kidderminster Victoria but breathed new life into the Birmingham Premier Division title race

A superb performance from skipper Paul Wicker improved Walsall’s chances of beating the drop at the other end of the table, but Smethwick’s last wicket pair hung on to deny Walsall a victory that would have taken them out of the bottom two.

They trail Walmley by a single point and lie three points behind Moseley who they meet in a vital game at Gorway on Monday.

Such is the tight nature of the battle at the bottom, any two of six teams could still go down with just 16 points separating Walsall from seventh placed Kenilworth Wardens who also face a critical match on Monday against fellow strugglers Walmley.

Both Kidderminster and Shrewsbury, who cruised to a six wicket victory, at Moseley, are now, within one win of K & D with three games remaining but the 2009 Champions remain favourites to retain their crown.

David Hemp (88) and Alec Baker (40) helped the leaders to 201 for seven but this proved to be an easy target for the Carpetmen, as James Ralph (85) and Craig Wood (70 not out) eased the challengers to a confidence-boosting victory.

Moseley find themselves in deep trouble at the foot of the table after they were brushed aside for 78 by Shrewsbury before skipper Ed Foster’s 35 steered his side to a six wicket success.

So often the unsung hero for Moseley, Ashfak Hussein finished with 4-27 but he was unable to prevent Shrewsbury from maintaining their place in the race for the title.

Wicker’s 49 was the cornerstone of Walsall’s 162 for seven, at Smethwick, but just as valuable was his contribution with the ball, taking 2-9 from 10 overs in support of Colin Griggs, who snapped up 4-12 as Smethwick clung on to a draw on 72 for nine.

Walmley were involved in a thriller at Wellington but they remain in the relegation zone after they were unable to take the last wicket, Wellington finishing on 156 for nine in response to the visitors 156 all out.

Dan Bromley hit 45 for Walmley, while Alex Saunders returned the impressive figures of 6-24 for the home side. Mark Downes (63) and Wendell Wagner (55) appeared to have turned the game in favour of Wellington but 4-39 from Greg Ricketts was the saviour for Walmley.

Tejinder Pal Singh (84) lead Himley to 235 for eight in 55 overs, despite 4-54 from Wardens’ Anthony Wilkinson but the match fizzled out after the Wardens’ innings was reduced to 37 overs, the visitors finishing on 63 for four, which leaves both sides in the thick of the relegation battle along with Wolverhampton who were defeated by Barnt Green at Danescourt by six wickets.

Chris Brook (56 not out) and Ryan Canning (38) guided Wolves to 175 for six but this proved insufficient as Nathan Newport (60) and Carl Crowe (58 not out) saw Barnt Green to a win that should remove any lingering fears of relegation.