West Bromwich Dartmouth post win

A major upset in the Birmingham Midshires Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League, which saw wooden spooners West Bromwich Dartmouth turn the tables on leaders Wolverhampton to record their first win of the season, propelled Barnt Green back to the top of table.

Missing their skipper, Harshad Patel, with a broken finger, Dartmouth scratched their way to 143 all out, in 47.1 overs, with Rawlston Tappin top scoring with 41 but their struggle was nothing compared to that of the leaders, who were dismissed for 124 in 59.4 overs, Naheem Sajjad taking the Man of the Match award for his haul of 4-35.

Barnt Green piled up 261 for five declared in 54 overs, with solid contributions from Richard Hall (54), Nathan Newport (48), Stuart Shephard (46) plus a blistering 43 not out from Paul Bedford, who faced 14 balls in nine minutes and smashed four sixes, one four and a two in one over bowled by Luke Radford.

The declaration proved critical when Leamington’s last man Jack Hawkes, was yorked off the last ball of the 56th over, bowled by Dougie Brown. Phil Mann took 4-48 and Hall clinched the Man of the Match award with 3-28.

Shifnal appeared to be on the way to victory, against Walsall, before in-form paceman Andy Miller struck three times in his last two overs to send the Shropshire side crashing to a 12 run defeat.

The Division’s leading run scorer Brad Wilson scored 55 in Walsall’s 187 for nine as Guy Bulpitt proved hard to get away finishing with 6-59 but it was Miller who clinched the Man of the Match award with 5-35, despite 47 from county skipper James Ralph.

Moseley’s David Powles contributed 110 to his side’s 250 for seven against Walmley but the visitors hung on, replying with 178 for eight with Bhavik Patel making 43. Neil Pinner’s 41 was the only bright spot for Kidderminster Victoria, who were dismissed for 163 by Himley, three wickets apiece to T.P. Singh and Chris Whelan.

Singh then blasted 98 to earn a Man of the Match Award as his side cruised to a seven wicket victory in 28.4 overs. Sam Reddish (69), Nick James (54), Mark Littlewood (38) and Travis Friend (38) all looked in good form as Knowle & Dorridge put their recent poor run behind them to rack up 245 for six at Kenilworth Wardens.

James Jordan took 3-48, for the home side, who batted out time, to finish on 170 for nine, with two wickets apiece for Nick Warren, Friend and Man of the Match, James while Shitansu Kotak provided the most resistance with 57.