Division One
SHREWSBURY’S surge up the table continued as they chalked up a 73-run victory at a Barnt Green side who last tasted victory at the start of July.
Former Shropshire ace George Hargrave was the catalyst as he smashed 135 off just 98 balls which included 10 fours and 10 sixes. He was supported by Rhodri Evans (41) and Seb Scott was still there at the end unbeaten on 43 as Shrewsbury made 274 all out. Robbie Shurmer (3-35) and Jacques Banton (2-26) were the pick of the bowlers.
The home side soon fell behind the run rate with opener Ed Pollock (47) the only batter to make any impression against some tidy bowling as they were skittled out for 201. Harry Darley took 1-14 from his six overs but the main wicket-takers were Sam Whitney (4-45) and Peter Clark (3-34).
The Shropshire lads are now clear in third place, 19 points adrift of leaders Smethwick who racked up the runs on their way to victory against Barnards Green.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, the Black Country side made 338/6 from their 50 overs inspired by Indian all-rounder Deepak Khatri who hit a magnificent 152 off 91 balls, a total that included 15 4s and eights 6s.
There was a useful 61-run knock from Viken Kedariya with the big-hitters putting on 110 for the fourth wicket. Chris Steele took two wickets.
Faced with such a huge total, Barnards Green could have done without losing Francis Moore with a run on the board but they rallied and a century from former Worcestershire batter George Rhodes (111) gave them hope.
But with Mohammed Usman Tahir taking 3-50 and Gurbaj Singh 2-49, the visitors slumped to 266 all out, 72 runs shy of their target.
Knowle & Dorridge are still in second spot following their 120-run defeat of Berkswell. Half-centuries from Neil Pinner (76), Alex Phillips (57) and Isaac Maddy (51) helped the hosts to 289/9 with Naim Luhar finishing with 3-47.
Pinner was then among the wickets, taking 3-18 as Berkswell were dismissed for 169. Ethan Wragg (54) was the only batsman to find runs.
Moseley won their basement battle with Wolverhampton by 34 runs, a 128-run partnership between Mahsen Mohamed Narvel (78) and Hishaam Khan (74no) helping them to 305/5. There were also half-centuries for openers Jakob Bhula (53) and Keith Barker (51). Reeve Evitts took 3-45.
In response, Worcestershire youngster Evitts hit 108 and Ramanjot Jaswal 72 to help Wolverhampton to 171/2 but the visitors faltered and were eventually dismissed for 271 with Khan taking 3-52 and Yadvinder Singh 3-36.
In the other Division One games, Harborne beat high-fliers Halesowen by 44 runs and Ombersley beat Himley by 54 runs. Harborne were skittled out for 166 but that proved enough as Mike Bevan (4-17) and Andrew Sutton (3-37) scythed through their visitors. And fine knocks from Vriitya Aravind (95) and Yusuf Khalil (79) guided Ombersley to 274 which was more than enough to see off Himley for whom opener Ollie Walker scored 91.
Division Two
There seems to be no stopping league leaders Kenilworth Wardens as they bagged their fourth win on the bounce, a 26-run win at title outsiders Tamworth.
The top order all made runs led by Pakistani all-rounder Ali Zaryab who made 68 with fellow opener Nick Seager adding 55 and Levi Gekis 47. Others failed to deal with some excellent bowling from Jacob Flower (5-57) and James Cooper (3-48) and the leaders were dismissed for 263.
Tamworth struggled early on and were reduced to 35/3 as Ben Blakemore starred with the ball, taking 5-51. Jason Jakeman (64) and Riley Ward (88) steadied the innings but they were all out for 237.
Dorridge remain 16 points adrift after they chalked up a 47-run victory at Stourbridge helped by two century partnerships at the top of their innings. Luke Horgan (62) and Nabeel Mahmood (102) put on 111 for the first wicket with the latter then linking up with skipper Daniyal Khan (71) to add 123 for the next wicket. The title hopefuls were on 283/6 at the end of their overs with Dan Wale the pick of the bowlers having picked up 4-52.
Stourbridge were all out for 236 with Imaad Mahmood taking 4-42. Dominic O’Reilly was still there at the end on 51 not out from just 30 deliveries.
Kidderminster were convincing 88-run winners at Coventry & North Warwickshire. Opener Harry Sockett’s 75 was the perfect foundation for the visitors but they failed to take advantage and were all out for 216 with Sameer Vohra finishing with 4-45.
But those figures were trumped by Kidderminster’s Daniel Lategan who took 4-6 from 4.3 overs and Dylan Griffiths who captured 4-37 to have their hosts back in the pavilion for just 128.
Runs also proved hard to come by for Shifnal as they were skittled out for 132 at home to Leamington. Skipper Charlie Home top scored with 46 while Rashawn Worrell dazzled with 3-10 and Tom Bate took 3-33.
In reply, the visitors cruised to victory in the 31st over, reaching 136/4 with Barbados ace Worrell (45) leading the chase assisted by fellow opener Harrison Smith (31).
There was no shortage of runs at Haden Hill where Old Hill and visitors Handsworth amassed nearly 700 runs between them.
Top of the class for the hosts was Saad Naseem who smashed a mighty 122 off only 67 balls with 14 4s and six 6s. There was also a century from Hasan Ahmed (113) as Old Hill made 342.
There were no centuries from the visitors but they made good progress with Rohel Peters (84) and Recordo Gordon (52) the pick of the batsmen as they reached 345/8.
Finally, West Bromwich Dartmouth kept in touch with the leading pair thanks to a five-wicket win at home to Worfield. Aman Hussain’s 72 runs helped the visitors to 202 all out, Aaron Patel taking 4-62, but an unbeaten 61 from Ateeq Javid helped guide Dartmouth to 205/5.
