Express & Star

Tom Fell stars with bat and ball in victory

Worcestershire's Tom Fell starred with bat and ball as Wolverhampton eased their relegation worries with a three-wicket win over contenders Berkswell.

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After an opening stand of 78 between Mark Best (47) and Darren Maddy, Berkswell lost wickets at regular intervals before closing their innings on 244-9.

The best of the Wolverhampton bowlers was Fell with 3-27, but it was in his more regular guise as a batsman that Fell took the Birmingham & District League Premier Division title game away from Berkswell.

With the support of James Hammond (35) and Matthew Kleinveldt (45), Fell hit 111 from 109 balls to ease Wolverhampton to a valuable victory.

Any hopes West Bromwich Dartmouth had of retaining the title they won in 2014 appear over after a 28-run defeat against Knowle & Dorridge.

After a late start, the match was reduced to 45 overs per side, with Knowle & Dorridge struggling to a total of 136-9.

A sixth-wicket stand of 48 between Chris Kenny (37) and Nathan Roberts (24) formed the backbone of the innings, with Brinder Phagura taking 4-32.

Dartmouth looked well set on 96-4 but collapsed to 108 all out, as Jack Grundy took 4-18 for the Warwickshire side.

Kidderminster Victoria continued their 100 per cent record in the 50-over format with a crushing 155-run victory over Dorridge.

But their form was so poor in the 55-over matches that they languish in sixth place, 53 points behind leaders Shrewsbury.

Craig Wood hit 85 in a total of 258-7, which was boosted by an unbroken eighth-wicket stand of 58 in six overs between Ryan Derrick (32 not out) and Jonathan Wright (20 not out).

Ali Ebad took 3-44 for Dorridge, who collapsed to 103 all out in response with Connor Smith taking five of the first six wickets to fall at a personal cost of 31.

Richard Kimberlin took the last three wickets for 12.

Division One leaders Walsall took another step towards promotion with a 10-wicket victory over Leamington Spa.

An inspired spell of seam bowling by Ed Denham (6-19) reduced the visitors to 166 all out.

Opening batsmen James Middleton (85 not out) and Mike Hingley (50 not out) rushed the Gorway outfit to victory in 21.1 overs.

Old Hill were crushed by 182 runs at Barnards Green after the home side recovered from 27-4 to post a mammoth total of 334-9. Old Hill were bowled out for 152.

Smethwick took advantage of Old Hill's defeat and move up to second place following a 66-run win over Moseley.

A classy 84 from Amitoze Singh helped Smethwick reach 179, before Naqaash Tahir (4-22) led their attack to dismiss Moseley for 113.

Himley's poor form in the 50 over format continued as they were defeated by six wickets at Attock. Their total of 197-9 looked as though it might be enough when Attock slipped to 67-4.

But an unbroken fifth wicket stand of 131 saw them home. Penkridge are still in with a chance of promotion from Division Two after they defeated visiting Old Elizabethans by 89 runs.

Attiq Chishti (105) and Liam Brazier (50) saw Penkridge to 273-8 and Old Elizabethans responded with 184-8.

Wombourne are 32 points above the danger line after a 15-run victory over Tamworth.

Dan Vernon hit 70 and Waqas Ahmed opened with 40 in a Wombourne total of 198-8, with Tamworth restricted to 183-8 in reply.

Brewood improved their survival chances with a 29-run victory at Shifnal. The visitors were bowled out for 144 but Shifnal crumbled to 115 all out, Robbie Byrne took 5-31.

Halesowen cruised to a derby victory at Stourbridge despite the home side making 202-8, Alex Bingham hitting 55.

A second-wicket stand of 161 between Ed Kilbee (109 not out) and Kester Moseley (63) eased Halesowen home.

Cannock & Rugeley Hawks are now firm favourites for the Division Three title, following their six-wicket win at rock-bottom Kings Heath.

Kings Heath made 149, but 36 from Saqib Akbar saw the Staffordshire side to victory.

Fordhouses failed to cash in on defeat for second-placed Stratford as they lost to Aston Manor by 22 runs.

Chris Guest finished with 6-25 as Manor made 202-9 before bowling Fordhouses for 180.

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