Shrewsbury and Moseley top league

Shantry puts Shrewsbury in box seat

They compiled the highest score of the day across all four divisions but Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League champions from last year Knowle & Dorridge failed to convert their supremacy into a victory at Walmley.

It left unfancied Shrewsbury and Moseley leading the way after the first round of matches in the Premier Division.

Luke Parker (72) Attiq Chishti (52) and Richard Johnson (52) struck half-centuries as the Champions piled up 278 for seven against their Warwickshire rivals, with off-spinner, Paul Griffiths (4-70) striving manfully to stem the tide.

In reply, Bhavik Patel (62) and Tim Gruijters (56) also hit half-centuries but Walmley fell well short on 194 for seven.

A fine all-round effort from Worcestershire’s Jack Shantry guided Shrewsbury to victory over Walsall at London Road. Shantry, who played for Walsall last season hit 42 in his side’s 142 all out with Tom Freeman taking 5-48 for the visitors who slumped to 130 all out despite a battling 68 from Tim Maxfield.

Shantry’s 5-38 did the damage and off-spinner Rob Foster nipped in with 4-28. Wellington crumbled to 83 all out at Moseley with Fred Eburah taking 8-32. Moseley lost three wickets as they picked off the Wellington attack to secure victory in the 20th over.

A classy 65 from Warwickshire’s Varun Chopra was the highlight of the Barnt Green innings which was closed at 234 for six after 55 overs.

Gavin Shephard added 44, with Moeen Ali sneaking in with three wickets for Smethwick who never really, threatened the Barnt Green total despite the presence of Ali currently, one of the leading run scorers in first-class cricket.

Faisal Shahid top scored with 58 and Mo Sheikh defied the Barnt Green attack with an unbeaten 49. Martyn Donald (65) top scored in Kenilworth Wardens’ 205 for nine against Wolverhampton, who responded with 162 for seven with Danny Bowyer hitting 44.

Earlier, Chris Russell took 4-59 to put a brake on the Wardens. The match between Kidderminster Victoria and Himley was interestingly poised when rain intervened and the match was abandoned.

Both these Clubs are strong title contenders and they will have fancied their chances in this game. Shafiq Ahmed took 4-33, as Kidderminster were dismissed for 177, and Himley had reached 72 for three from 19.2 overs when the match was abandoned.