Knowle & Dorridge extend lead

Knowle & Dorridge were held to a winning draw by newly-promoted Bromsgrove but extended their lead at the top of the Birmingham Midshires Premier League to 26 points after nearest challengers Kidderminster Victoria crashed to an eight wicket defeat at Walmley.

Third-placed Walsall were also outplayed at Himley, hanging on for a losing draw.

Former Warwickshire all-rounder, Nick James (43) top scored in the League leaders’ total of 223 all out with Bromsgrove skipper Mark Evenson, picking up 5-41.

His side finished 40 runs short with seven wickets down despite 74 from Man of the Match Jayden Levitt.

Kidderminster’s early season form deserted them at Walmley where they crashed to 61 all out after winning the toss and electing to bat.

Greg Ricketts did the damage with 8-21 before Bhavik Patel (29 not out) and Chris Booth (21 not out) saw their side to a welcome first win of the season.

Former Walsall opener Chris Tranter hit a dashing 60 off 43 balls to kick-start Himley’s innings, against his old side but the home side fell away slightly to 226 for eight, despite another half-century from skipper Greg Wright, his third of the season.

Walsall, then, meandered their way to 167 for seven and a losing draw, with 18 year-old Tim Maxfield hitting 57, a result that would have been worse if Himley had not spilled five catches.

Barnt Green’s batting woes continued as they slumped to 45 for nine in pursuit of Moseley’s less than daunting 96 all out. A last wicket stand of 25 between Adam Smith and Steve Wheeler raised hopes before the last wicket fell at 70.

On a day best suited to bowling, Dougie Brown and Wheeler took three wickets apiece for the Green who now occupy bottom place in the table.

But it was Moseley’s Scottish International, Calum MacLeod, who took the Man of the Match award finishing with 4-32 with assistance from Fred Eburah and Ashfak Hussein, who shared the remaining six wickets.

Shrewsbury brushed aside Leamington Spa, by six wickets, at London Road after the visitors posted 170.

Tom Lewis top scored with 41 but the batting honours went to Shrewsbury’s overseas player Wes Robinson, who was undefeated on 74 as his side cruised to success.

Earlier, leg-spinner Elliott Green had done the damage for the Shropshire side, taking 5-43, his second five wicket haul of the season.

Kenilworth Wardens looked set for their first win of the season when they reduced Wolverhampton to 96 for nine after 35 overs, in response to their own total of 206 for nine but they reckoned without last pair Chris Russell (27 not out) and Oliver Margetts (33 not out) who held on for 20 overs to secure a losing draw.

Scott Stenning (54) and Shitansu Kotak (45 not out) were the most effective Wardens’ batsmen while former Bedfordshire and Lincolnshire all-rounder Richard Howitt, took 5-71 on his debut, for Wolverhampton.

Kotak’s 5-11 ensured that he took the Man of the Match award but his side are still awaiting that vital first success.