Express & Star

Walsall beat the rain for a worthy win

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The opening day of the Birmingham & District League campaign was severely disrupted by the dismal weather.

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But the recent introduction of the Duckworth Lewis Stern (DLS) system of scoring helped newly-promoted Walsall to a worthy victory.

After James Middleton (49) and Tim Maxfield took Walsall to 95-1, the Gorway side fell away to 192 all out in 44.2 overs with Jonathan Wigley taking 3-35.

When play was abandoned, Leamington had reached 88-5 with their target at the time of abandonment being 113.

Kidderminster finished on 170-9 against Ombersley with a half-century from Neil Pinner (53), but the visitors sailed past this total in the 30th over of their response.

The match between Berkswell and West Bromwich Dartmouth was evenly poised when the abandonment came after the visitors had reached 88-1 in response to Berkwell's 258-7.

Kadeer Ali (38 not out) and Ateeq Javid (31 no) were well set for Dartmouth before the game came to a premature end. Another three overs and DLS would have declared a winner.

Shrewsbury had scored 63-3 at Wolverhampton when the game was abandoned.

Himley, Old Hill, Penkridge and Smethwick all failed to reach results in Division One, although Smethwick's Amitoze Singh (60 no) and Himley's Will Fraine (43) provided a couple of highlights.

In Division Two, there was an opening-day victory for Halesowen, but the match between Cannock & Rugeley Hawks and Shifnal was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Against Halesowen, visitors Coventry & North Warwickshire scored 174-8.

Faced with a revised target of 133 after an interruption for rain, Halesowen eased to a nine-wicket success with Ed Kilbee to the fore with an unbeaten 74.

The clash between Tamworth and Wombourne was a thriller with the home side coming through by three runs courtesy of DLS. The pick of the Wombourne bowlers was Adam Quiney (3-50).

The match between Penkridge and Stourbridge was abandoned with the home side on 53-3.

Last season's Worcestershire County League champions Pershore began their Division Three season with a four-run DLS success.

It against Streetly, who fell just short on 134-8 after Neil Curtis (50) had given them a flying start.

Fordhouses were the only other winners in Division Three, reaching a revised target of 119-4, in reply to Astwood Bank's 203 all out.

In response to Worfield's 218-4, Lichfield reached six without loss when the match was abandoned.

Brewood were in a precarious position when their match against visitors Eastnor was abandoned, with the home side on 78-8.