Rain a pain in Birmingham

There was much gnashing of teeth and gnarling of lips in the Midlands as heavy rain wreaked havoc on the latest round of Birmingham Midshires Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League with just one game producing a result.

Kidderminster Victoria were the only side to record a victory, as rain brought the other five games to a premature end just as they were reaching an exciting climax.

Mario Saliwa returned to form taking 6-75, as the Vics skittled Leamington Spa for 118. Craig Wood hit an unbeaten 46 to steer the Worcestershire club safely into mid-table at the half-way point of the season.

Leaders Barnt Green found the going tough at Knowle & Dorridge after the home side scorched to 253 for six, thanks to an undefeated 73 from Travis Friend.

In reply, Barnt Green reached 115 for four in the 30th over when the match was halted.

Second in the table Wolverhampton visited close rivals Walsall, who battled their way to 212 for eight in 55 overs. Mo Sheikh made a gritty 55 while Brad Wilson posted a classy half-century and Warwickshire paceman Andy Miller showed his prowess with the bat smashing three sixes and three fours to make 40 from 27 balls. His knock took the reigning champions from 159 for seven to 210 for eight.

Mo Sheikh battled in vain

Wolverhampton never looked like chasing the target and limped to 85 for seven before the game was abandoned with 13 overs remaining. Sheikh sealed the man of the match award with 4-24 from 16 overs.

James Jordan hit 74 not out in Kenilworth Wardens total of 176 for eight at Himley with veteran seamer Tim Heap taking 4-78 for the home team. Himley reached 55 for one in 10 overs when the heavens opened.

The most frustrated team will be Walmley who dismissed Shifnal for 162, thanks to 5-28 from Greg Ricketts, then reached 150 for four from 39 overs, before rain drove the players from the field. With Chris Howell still at the wicket on 41, after Chris Booth had chipped in with 40, Walmley appeared well on their way to a deserved win.

While Leamington were sliding to another defeat, fellow strugglers West Bromwich Dartmouth and Moseley clashed at Sandwell Park and it was Dartmouth who will be the happier team, taking 14 points to move closer to safety with Moseley edging nearer the relegation zone.

Moseley, the only team yet to post a win this season, were teetering on 93 for six in reply to Dartmouth’s 242 for nine when the match was abandoned. Kasir Shah (62) and TP Sudhindra (43) led the way and it was Sudhindra’s 4-10 that set up the chance for a second victory of the season for Dartmouth before the weather had the final say.