Walsall kick off with win

Walsall's Man of the Match Mo Sheikh

Champions Walsall and highly fancied Knowle & Dorridge began the 2009 Birmingham Midshires League programme in fine style with resounding wins against Walmley and Leamington Spa.

Dark horses Kidderminster Victoria defeated Moseley while Barnt Green were successful against newly-promoted Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton clinched a thrilling last ball win by one wicket at Himley at Stourbridge Road.

The match between Kenilworth Wardens and the other promoted side Bromsgrove finished in a draw with Wardens gaining the upper hand on a day when there were only two draws at 1st XI level in the whole of the League.

Mo Sheikh scored 37 in Walsall’s total of 186 against Walmley but the remaining batsmen found life difficult against Greg Ricketts (4-33).

Sheikh clinched the Man of the Match award with 3-22 in Walmley’s reply but he was eventually overshadowed by skipper Paul Wicker who took 5-33 as the visitors slumped to 106 all out.

David Smith (83) and Alec Baker (50) led the way as Knowle & Dorridge piled on 236 for six against Leamington who crumbled to 157 all out in reply.

Jack Hawkes had taken 4-37 in the K & D innings but apart from Neil Smith (42) there was little resistance from his team mates.

Skipper Huw Jones top scored with 63 for Moseley in a disappointing total of 142 but he was the only batsman who coped with the hostile bowling of Worcestershire’s Imran Arif (6-49) who took the Man of the Match award.

Ed Foster hit 73 for Shrewsbury at Barnt Green but a fine spell from Stephen Bevan (4-42) restricted the Shropshire outfit to 189.

A timely 52 from another Worcestershire player Gareth Andrew saw Barnt Green home by one wicket, after they had slid to 42 for four, then 60 for five to Elliott Green (4-52). Himley raced to 50 without loss against Wolverhampton but a deadly second spell from Chris Russell (5-49) put the brakes on and they limped to 163 all out in the 55th over.

Greg Wright (52) was last man out and his side seemed well on course for victory until a fighting 53 from Danny Bowyer kept Wolverhampton in the game.

Tim Heap (5-40) was outstanding but the new bowling restrictions meant that he could not bowl again after his 17th over and the game began to slip away from Himley.

The visitors lost their ninth wicket with the scores level and two balls remaining but Jack Snape showed a cool head as he scored the winning runs with one ball to spare.

Scott Stenning (47) steered Wardens to 172 for nine against Bromsgrove with Nick Husbands and Tom Friend taking three wickets apiece for the newcomers who held on by making 147 for eight in reply, Shitansu Kotak finishing with
4-41 for the hosts.