Wolverhampton wilderness ends

Wolverhampton: back on top

Wolverhampton celebrated the 10th anniversary of their title win in the inaugural Birmingham Midshires Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League in 1998 by returning to the top of the table following their 30-run defeat over Moseley.

At the end of the 2004 season, Wolverhampton were relegated to Division Two but a year later were promoted to Division One. Last year they returned to the Premier Division and in 2008, are once more looking like potential champions following four wins from seven matches.

Batting first, Wolverhampton scored 176 for nine, with 14 year-old Anish Kapil, a member of the Worcestershire CCC Academy and one of the most exciting young talents in the country top scoring with 57. In reply Moseley skipper Huw Jones hit 63 but a match winning 4-54 from Indian international all-rounder Sairaj Bahutule restricted the home side to 146 all out.

Previous leaders Barnt Green, went down to Himley by one wicket, in a thriller at Cherry Hill Road, after Keiran Rees (43 not out) and Meeraj Ahmed (25 not out) staged a recovery for the village side, taking them from the perils of 127 for seven, to 210 for seven at the close.

Himley’s Chris Whelan took 3-33 and, after seven overs, his side looked well set on 46 for one. The dismissal of T.P. Singh (65) sounded the alarm bells as Dougie Brown and Phillip Mann took three wickets apiece but with five runs required, Tim Heap smashed a six over the scoreboard to seal an exciting victory for the visitors.

Champions Walsall were completely outplayed at Kidderminster Victoria but hung on for dear life with 168 for nine, in response to the home team’s impressive 240 for six. Josh Knappett (64) and Ted Baylis (59) scored half-centuries for Vics, as did Kiwi Brad Wilson (72) for Walsall but the Man of the Match, for the third match running was Mario Saliwa who took 5-58 to plunge Walsall into deep trouble.

Knowle & Dorridge earned 20 points against Leamington Spa, who scored 228 for eight, thanks to Luke Parker’s 84. A half century from Nick James and an unbeaten 48 from Man of the Match Nick Warren, saw Knowle & Dorridge to a three wicket win.

Kenilworth Wardens were also three wicket victors against Shifnal, who were led to 201 for eight by Martyn Davies (57) before consistent batting from Martin Donald (55), Scott Stenning (52) and Shitansu Kotak (44) eased Wardens, comfortably, into mid-table.

West Bromwich Dartmouth continued to struggle with the bat, sliding to 146 all out against Walmley, despite a promising partnership of 86 for the fifth wicket between former England A player Shaftab Khalid (47) and Rawlston Tappin (42). Lionel Baker (5-55) and Greg Ricketts (4-34) did the most damage but it needed an undefeated 40 from Man of the Match Baker to secure the five wicket win for Walmley.