Knowle & Dorridge poised for first championship title

Keith Barker's 5-32 points K & D towards first title

Wolverhampton managed to reduce Knowle & Dorridge’s lead at the top of the Birmingham Midshires Premier Cricket League by four points but the Warwickshire club remain on course for their first championship title.

Wolverhampton took 24 points at Danescourt as they condemned Leamington Spa to their tenth defeat of the season although all is not yet lost for the visitors thanks to a draw between fellow relegation candidates Walsall and Bromsgrove.

Eian Marillier’s 48 was not enough to prevent Kenilworth Wardens from sliding to 112 all out against K & D, as Keith Barker (5-32) and Nick James (4-18) ripped through the rest of the batting line up.

Dan Vernon’s 4-32 kept the pressure on the leaders who ran out winners by three wickets, and added another 20 points to their total. Mike Smith (70) and David Wheeldon (67) saw Wolverhampton to 231 for seven against Leamington who in reply folded to 158 all out.

Richard Swann top scored, with 33, while Richard Howitt’s 5-43 earned him the Man of the Match Award, as Wolverhampton ensured that K & D will have to wait until after the Bank Holiday weekend to nail the title.

Leamington’s plight at the foot of the table is serious but they still harbour survival hopes after Walsall were unable to force a victory against Bromsgrove.

Teenager Tim Maxfield (119) hit a maiden century as Walsall hit 232 all out but an unbeaten 87 from Shaun Levy kept the Walsall attack at bay.

Earlier, Nick Husbands took 4-54 for Bromsgrove who trail Walsall by eight points after they finished on 201 for six. Himley are not yet safe as a result of their loss of form in the second half of the season.

They went down again at Kidderminster Victoria after their middle and lower order batting failed to support Greg Wright (57), Dan Bassett (56) and Chris Tranter (41) who took them to 170 for two before Jonathan Wright (6-49) induced a collapse to 213 all out.

In reply, Kidderminster seldom looked in trouble as Matt Pardoe (84), Neil Pinner (57) and Craig Wood (46) eased them to a seven wicket success in front of a large gathering of guests who were present to celebrate the League’s President’s Day with former skipper Keith Wilkinson.

Shrewsbury warmed up for their semi-final against Chester-le- Street in the National Club K.O. competition with a thumping nine wicket win at Moseley, who were bundled out for 106.

Wes Robinson took 4-37 then Ed Foster (53 not out) and Ryan Bishop (48 not out) raced the Shropshire Club to victory in 14.1 overs.

Barnt Green crumbled to 72 all out, after winning the toss and electing to bat at Walmley with Hamza Nadeem returning the excellent figures of 6-17. Paul Griffiths chipped in with 3-28 but it wasn’t all plain sailing for Walmley who lost eight wickets before they reached their target.

Andy Sutton (4-18) and Dougie Brown (3-35) made Walmley earn each run but Danny Bromley’s 25 proved priceless as Walmley moved into the top half of the table.

With four games remaining, the title is K & D’s to lose but there is increasing interest at the other end of the table where six teams including Barnt Green, Shrewsbury and Himley, remain in danger.