Vintage Hemp aids K & D campaign

Hemp makes 84 in K & D debut

Knowle & Dorridge, the 2009 Premier Division Champions, tightened their grip on the 2010 title with an exciting two wicket success over their nearest challengers Shrewsbury which stretched their lead to 41 points.

They seem intent on bettering last year’s winning margin of 83 points and there appears to be little their challengers can do to halt their progress with Kidderminster Victoria crashing to an eight wicket defeat at Kenilworth Wardens and Barnt Green just hanging on for a draw against their “bogey” side, Moseley.

The situation at the foot of the table is far less clear-cut with Walsall climbing out of the bottom two with a seven wicket success against Walmley, who drop into the danger zone alongside Himley, who went down to Wellington by one run, their second defeat in two weeks by the slenderest of margins.

Two points separate Walsall, in tenth place and Himley who have slipped to the bottom, but another five teams remain within striking distance of the bottom three and a nervous end to the season appears to be on the cards for at least eight clubs.

Joe Leach (85) and Ed Foster (62) helped Shrewsbury to a respectable 255 for four at Station Road but former Glamorgan and Warwickshire man David Hemp, in his first League game of the season added an extra dimension to the K & D batting line-up.

His 84, assisted by 63 from current Edgbaston number two stumper Richard Johnson and 51 from former staff man Luke Parker saw the Champions to victory with two balls to spare.

Craig Wood hit an unbeaten 97 in Kidderminster’s 219 for five at Glasshouse Park, but Martin Donald (105 not out) and Shitansu Kotak (56) made light work of the target.

Walsall newcomer Colin Griggs, who was signed from Atherstone Town this week, settled in quickly at Gorway, finishing with 7-39, as Walmley were skittled for 129.

He picked up three early wickets, as Walmley slipped to 29 for three and they would have been in worse trouble if Alex McChristie had held on to a slip chance from Chris Booth (20) from his first ball. The left-hander survived the chance and he and Dan Bromley (36) steadied the ship before Paul Wicker (2-22) nipped in with two wickets and Griggs returned to mop up the tail.

In reply, Walsall lost Simon Harding (13) at 23 but Paul Baker (22) and Brad Wilson (59 not out) took them to 73 before Baker and Adam Breakspear were dismissed in the same over.

Wilson and McChristie (12 not out) then combined in an unbroken partnership of 57 to see Walsall to an easy seven wicket win but there were a few alarms when heavy rain caused a stoppage with just five runs required.

Fortunately for them, the clouds lifted and their fourth win of the season was secured. Chris Shephard (51) and Adam Byram (42) steered Wellington to 211 for seven at Himley, but the home side came up one run short for the second time in a week after Tejinder Pal Singh (53) and Chris Tranter (41) had given them a good start.

Byram took 5-54 to clinch Wellington’s fifth success of the season which takes them to the comfort of fourth position but even they will be looking over their shoulders for a few weeks yet.

Adam Taylor hit a maiden century for Moseley, against Barnt Green, finishing with 102 as Moseley scored 209 for six. The home side slumped to 138 for nine in reply. A partnership of 262 for the third wicket between Richard Howitt (114) and Ryan Canning (134) took Wolverhampton to 275 for five declared in 52 overs at Smethwick who were 200 all out in the 56th over of their response. A feature of the Smethwick innings was the 55 extras conceded by Wolverhampton.