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West Bromwich Dartmouth clinch the title

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West Bromwich Dartmouth were today celebrating becoming Birmingham & District League Premier Division champions for the first time in 21 years.

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The Sandwell Park side will finish the season against Kidderminster Victoria having won the league with a game to spare,

writes Joe Masi.

It comes following an impressive batting performance by skipper Kadeer Ali and Brinder Phagura in a five-wicket victory over Berkswell.

But Saturday proved to have mixed emotions for our local sides with Walsall, who have won the title seven times since Dartmouth's last victory, finally relegated to Division One after losing to Shrewsbury.

For Dartmouth, though, the only thing that mattered was celebrating after initially bowling out Berkswell for 213 with with Arslan Shafiq picking up 3-18 for the home side.

In reply, a stand of 109 for the second wicket between Kadeer Ali (67) and Brinder Phagura (61) laid the foundations for Dartmouth's charge to victory.

Mick Corcoran, club spokesman, said: "It has been a fantastic season for us. Everyone connected with the club is absolutely delighted and we had a little party on Saturday which went down very well.

"We didn't expect to do as well as we have this year but we have only lost one game of cricket which perfectly sums up the achievement."

Chasing an imposing Shrewsbury total of 267 to keep their faint survival hopes alive, Walsall men made a brave attempt before closing on 243-7.

Tom Cox hit a superb unbeaten 120 in the Shrewsbury innings with David Powles taking 3-49 and Josh Bowker 3-64 for Walsall who eventually fell 25 runs short after Powles (70), Ben Cox (61) and James Middleton (48) tried to fight back.

Walmley, who were the only side who could be caught by Walsall, crashed to a 99 run defeat at Brockhampton who scored 236-9 from their 50 overs.

Kidderminster Victoria leap-frogged Dorridge with a five wicket win at the John Woolman Ground.

Michael Hill took 5-19 as Dorridge were dismissed for 166 with Andy Wing not out 47. But Kidderminster eased to victory with Craig Wood (57no).

Relegated Himley folded to 125 all out against Barnt Green despite 54 from Stuart Edge.

Barnt Green skipper Andy Sutton took 5-30 before Ed Pollock cracked 60.

Wolverhampton are no longer favourites to win promotion to the Premier Division following a crushing seven-wicket defeat to rivals Wellington.

In Division One, Wellington's Trevor Garwe took 4-21 with Wolverhampton only managing to register a score of 142 with James Hammond (46) top scoring.

Neil Edwards hit 68 to steer Wellington into second place ,with a win next week at Bromsgrove now enough to secure them the second promotion place.

Defeat, however, will leave the door open for Wolverhampton – if they can beat already-relegated Shifnal.

Rock-bottom Wombourne confirmed their relegation after a two-wicket defeat to Barnards Green.

Ben Hudson (56) and Henry Bartlett (42) helped Wombourne to 165 all out with Alex Hepburn picking up 4-36.

But Alex Milton (46) and George Rhodes (31) set Barnards Green on their way to victory.

Bowler Ed Denham 4-39 battled to the last but he was unable to prevent Wombourne from suffering a second relegation in succession.

Smethwick recorded an easy victory against local rivals Harborne, who crumbled to 11-6, before an unbeaten 95 from Dalton Polius saw them recover to record 193 all out.

The early damage was done by Naqaash Tahir (4-20) and Mo Sheikh (3-24), before a sparkling 103 for Ricky Hooper and 36 from Sheikh eased Smethwick to an easy seven-wicket win.

Old Hill confirmed their Division One status with a win against Moseley.

Neville Talbot hit 42 before Moseley were bowled out for 139. Old Hill then stuttered to a four-wicket win, helped by an impressive 84 from Jimmy Howell.

In Division Two, the promotion battle took an interesting twist, with third placed Attock leap-frogging Penkridge following a one run victory over their closest challengers.

Attock's fate lies in their own hands but they face a difficult challenge at champions Leamington next week, whilst Penkridge are at home to Eastnor.

Sultan Mahmood made 43 in Attock's total of 240-8, with Penkridge off-spinner Shafiq Ahmed snapping up 4-29 before Laeq Chishti struck 87.

It took Penkridge to the verge of a victory that would have sealed promotion. Unfortunately for them, they fell one run short and passed the initiative to their hosts.

Halesowen, almost, guaranteed their safety with a five-wicket win at Brewood. The side now need three points from their final game against Whitchurch to survive the drop.

Elsewhere, Stourbridge recorded a 93-run win against Whitchurch with Bilal Hassan (92) and Audy Alexander (72) helping the side reach a total of 207 all out.

An unexpected last-ball defeat for Streetly against resurgent Newport allowed Sutton Coldfield to clinch the Division Three title, with a win against Astwood Bank.

Matt Hinton hit 52 in a Streetly total of 216 which would have been much greater but for an excellent 7-38 from Amardeep Sonkar.

Newport were indebted to 61 from Mark Downes before sealing victory off the final delivery.

Niall Cooper's 36 steered Fordhouses to a four-wicket win against Stratford. The result relegated Milford Hall, despite their two-wicket victory against Kings Heath.

Hawkins Cannock & Rugeley fell to a two run defeat to promotion-chasing Bridgnorth.