Birmingham League: Brilliant Ollie Walker century helps Himley escape drop zone

The opener’s runs, which came from 148 balls, accounted for more than half of his team’s total of 264-7 from their 55 overs.

And though they were unable to quite complete the win, as the visiting team clung on at 138-9 in the reply, the 16 points earned were enough to send them above their opponents and up to 10th in Division One.

Walker completed a fine all-round performance by becoming one of four bowlers to take two wickets, on an afternoon which should boost the confidence of a Himley team who found themselves at the wrong end of the table after being hit with a points deduction for a dangerous pitch.

Halesowen were knocked off top spot after they could only manage a winning draw at home to Ombersley.

Opener Matt Pardoe top scored with 73 as Hales were bowled out for 242 but while Ed Bragg then removed Ombersley opener Sunil Gunarathne for a duck at the start of the reply, Oliver Cox struck an excellent 130 as the visitors finished on 194-6. The hosts took 15 points from the match but Knowle and Dorridge’s win at Harborne saw them replaced at the top.

Smethwick slipped down to seventh after taking just seven points from a draw at Shrewsbury.

Home openers Peter Clark and Rhodri Evans both scored centuries and put on 256 for the first wicket as Shrews reached 334-5.

Rain left Smethwick facing an amended target in 30 overs but they never got close, finishing on 130-8.

Wolverhampton had a day to forget as they failed to defend 300 away at Barnards Green. 

Ramanjot Jaswal was the pick of the visiting batters, scoring 65 but what looked an imposing total proved straightforward for the hosts thanks to Rehaan Edavalath’s brilliant, unbeaten 152. Wolves were eventually beaten by seven wickets.

West Bromwich Dartmouth jumped into the Division Two promotion places after an excellent three-wicket win at Kenilworth Wardens.

Harry Johnson’s unbeaten 127 helped the home side reach 284-7 and they were firmly in the ascendency when Ismail Mohammed (81) became the seventh wicket to fall in the reply, with 85 still needed.

But Shayaan Tahir (47 not out) and Brinder Phagura (39 not out) combined for an unbeaten eighth-wicket stand of 87, getting their team over the line with 10 balls to spare.

Stourbridge remain firmly in contention despite being unable to quite force victory at Leamington.

Marvarick Perry suffered the agony of being run out on 99 but his knock helped Stour reach 292 and it was the home side who were clinging on at 232-8 in reply.

Old Hill lost by eight wickets at Worfield while Kidderminster, still waiting for their first win, claimed 16 points from a winning draw against Shifnal. 

Daniel Lategan struck an unbeaten 91 as Kiddy reached 241-5 but they were unable to finish off the visitors, who ended up 142-8 in reply.