Birmingham League round-up: Advantage cut as leaders suffer defeat on the road
Halesowen saw their lead at the top of the Birmingham League trimmed to just a point as they were beaten at Barnards Green.
Having chosen to bat, the visitors were bowled out for just 191 with Chris Steele and Ben Clarke taking eight wickets between them.
Former Herefordshire ace Steele took 4-50 from 15 overs while Worcestershire prospect Clarke finished with 4-36 from his 17 overs. Skipper Wes Griffiths top scored for Hales with 55.
Barnards Green then appeared to be cruising to victory thanks to half centuries from Oliver Halion and George Rhodes but the visitors refused to go down without a fight.
Alex Kervezee claimed two wickets in as many balls to spark a collapse as the hosts slumped from 150-2 to 177-7 but it came too late as they eventually edged home with two wickets to spare.
Barnt Green are now just a point behind Halesowen at the Division One summit, after piling on the runs in a winning draw with Wolverhampton.
Worcestershire’s Henry Cullen smashed 129 in a mammoth total of 372-8 but 73 from Reece Evitts at least helped Wolverhampton see out 60 overs to take seven points from the contest, finishing on 189-7.
Smethwick are just three points further back from Halesowen in third after they claimed a winning draw against Moseley.
Deepak Khatri scored a sublime century, hitting 147 from 115 balls to help them reach 293-8 from their 55 overs.
Khatri then completed an excellent individual performance by taking five wickets but his team were unable to find the last one which would have earned them a win and top spot in the table, Moseley’s final pair hanging on as they finished 266-9.
Himley climbed out of the bottom two as they claimed 14 points from a tight winning draw against Knowle and Dorridge.
Ollie Walker was the star of the show, top scoring with 68 as Himley reached 187-9 from their 55 overs.
He and Connor Smith then took three wickets each as the visitors finished on 181-9, the latter holding his nerve to concede just two of the decisive final over.
In Division Two, Stourbridge’s title aspirations were dented as they suffered a six-wicket defeat at home to fellow Black Country side Old Hill.
Syed Bukhari’s 58 (pictured) was the top scorer for the hosts as they were dismissed for 197 in the 55th over. Ali Latif took 3-36 and Saad Naseem 3-55.
In reply, Old Hill opener Hasan Ahmed carried his bat to reach 106 not out and he was supported by Suraj Chauhan (44 not out) as the visitors reached the target inside 42 overs.
West Bromwich Dartmouth lost ground on the promotion chasers as they were beaten by nine wickets at Leamington, Harrison Smith and Oscar Briggs both scoring centuries for the hosts.
Kidderminster remain in deep trouble despite a winning draw at home to Tamworth. Joseph Harrison’s excellent 119 and 78 from Nathan Jukes helped them reach 292 but despite Dan Lategan taking four wickets, they were unable to dismiss the visitors who finished on 270-8.
