Birmingham League: Stunning collapse hits Smethwick title hopes

Smethwick’s hopes of winning a third straight Birmingham League title suffered a huge blow as they collapsed to defeat at Harborne.

The Broomfield team host Barnt Green in the final match of the season on Saturday needing to win and hope leaders Knowle and Dorridge suffer a heavy defeat at Kenilworth Wardens if they are to snatch the crown.

Knowle need only three points to get over the line after beating Barnards Green while Smethwick were beaten in a match of which they appeared to have complete control.

After putting Harborne into bat, they had the home team in a host of trouble at 21-5.

Though they recovered to post 149, Smethwick’s win still looked certain when they stood 79-2 in the chase.

But the loss of Deepak Khatri triggered a stunning collapse which saw five wickets fall for the addition of no runs, as Harborne bowlers Rayyen Khan and Andrew Sutton ran riot.

Warwickshire youngster Taz Ali launched a counter offensive as he tried to steer Smethwick over the line, only to run out of partners when Sagar Udeshi was the last man to be dismissed, eight runs short of the target.

Knowle’s win also extinguished Halesowen’s faint hopes of the title, making their 111-run defeat to Moseley academic.

There was also a heavy loss for Himley, beaten by 148 runs at home to Dorridge.

In Division Two, Kidderminster’s relegation from the league was sealed as they suffered an agonising four run defeat to Leamington.

That loss, coupled with West Bromwich Dartmouth’s win at home to Worfield, means the nine-time champions will be playing in the Worcestershire League next summer.

Visitors Leamington made a strong start thanks to Harrison Smith’s 90 from just 89 balls but from 153-1, Kidderminster were able to drag them back and they eventually finished on 263-9, Liam West claiming three wickets.

The home side’s reply got off to the worst possible start when opener Mateen Khan was dismissed for a two-ball duck but fellow opener Spencer White scored 80 to provide early momentum.

Sohaym Maddekar (40) and Ben Jones (36) kept things moving but when both were dismissed in quick succession, it left the lower order needing to find 48 from the final six overs.They got close but with eight required off the final five balls, Jason Jakeman dismissed Connor Adams to decisively tilt the match in Leamington’s favour.

Things were far less dramatic at Dartmouth, where the home side cruised to an eight-wicket win, in a match which also confirmed Worfield’s relegation.

Though the visitors recovered from 72-7, their total of 207 proved well short once West Bromwich opener Bruce Thomason had smashed 78 from 44 balls.

Danny Cox finished unbeaten on 62 as Dartmouth cruised home with nearly 15 overs to spare.

Elsewhere, Stourbridge kept alive hopes of a top half finish with a 32-run win at Milford Hall inspired by Vriitya Aravind’s super 160 from 114 balls.

Old Hill went down by 161 runs at already-promoted Berkswell.