Written by Nick Archer at the Birmingham League, whose original article you can find here.
In first Round One tie of the (Twenty20) Challenge Cup Competition to be played, Warwickshire’s white ball specialist Ed Pollock thumped an unbeaten 100 from 31 balls against Kidderminster as Barnt Green chased down Kidderminster’s total of 117 for eight in just 7.5 overs. Pollock struck 11 fours and eight sixes as Barnt Green raced to a 10 wicket win with Amrinder Brar undefeated on 10 at the other end. Joe Miszkowski hit 36 for Kidderminster and Harry Bates took 3 for 20 for Barnt Green.
In a match reduced to 15 overs per side, Wolverhampton won the toss and chose to bat first in, already, gloomy conditions and were bowled out for 108 in 13.3 overs. Will Nield top scored with 35 and there were three wickets each for Himley seamers Jamie Turner (3 for 15) and Matt Jeavons (3 for 16). The Himley reply came to an end early, due to bad light, when 9.4 overs had been bowled with the total on 84 for three. At the time, the DLS par score was 64, so Himley were declared winners by 20 runs helped by 44 from Mahaaz Ahmed. Wolverhampton’s Andy Bowyer took 3 for six from his single over.
The clash between local rivals Knowle & Dorridge and Challenge Cup holders Berkswell was won by the home side who responded to Berkswell’s total of 182 for five in 20 overs with 183 for one in 16.4 overs. Nick James (60) and Awais Mohammed (59) added 106 for the fourth Berkswell wicket but an opening stand of 118 between Alex Phillips (78 not out) and Neil Dexter (65) eased Knowle & Dorridge into Round 2. Phillips faced 50 balls, hitting nine fours and two sixes while Dexter, off only 25 balls, struck seven fours and five sixes.
The all-Shropshire tie between Bridgnorth and Wem was dominated by the visitors after Craig Heath (94 not out) and Harry Chandler (74) put together an opening stand of 124. After Chandler’s dismissal, having faced 42 balls, Heath saw Wem to 216 for four at the end of 20 overs. His innings included six fours and seven sixes from 52 balls. The Bridgnorth reply was curtailed after 12 overs with the home side on 91 for six. The DLS par score at the time was 143, so Wem were declared winners by 51 runs. Ben Lees was unbeaten on 42 while Wem’s Adam Harrison and Mohit Kale finished with identical figures of 2 for 24.
Walsall were defeated by West Bromwich Dartmouth in Round One of the Graham Williamson Trophy but they turned the tables with a five wicket victory at Sandwell Park in a match reduced to 18 overs per side. Omar Ali (66 from 39 balls) and Shahzeb Raja (46 from 28 balls) gave Dartmouth a flying start by posting an opening stand of 77. However, the middle-order failed to capitalise on their good work and Dartmouth closed on 157 for five. Amit John (47 from 27 balls) and Bruce Thomason (45 from 27 balls) opened with a stand of 74 for Walsall and this fine start was built upon by Rafay Ahmed who closed the game out with an unbeaten 43 from 18 balls.
Harborne defeated Moseley by 69 runs at the second attempt after the first match was abandoned due to rain with Harborne on 260 for three from 18 overs. Swapnil Gugale had dominated proceedings with an unbeaten 148 and he, also, played a major role when the teams gathered again, a week later. Not quite so dominant this time, he hit 83 from 46 balls including five fours and six sixes and shared a stand of 106 for the second wicket with Jasper Davidson who struck 54 from 39 balls including three fours and four sixes. The most explosive innings, however, came from skipper Tom Arnold who smashed 39 from 13 balls with three fours and four sixes as Harborne closed on 222 for four at the end of 20 overs. Moseley’s response began well with Andy Umeed (43 from 25 balls) and Imandeep Kang (41 from 27 balls) taking the score to 82 without loss before Umeed fell to Arnold, who followed up by trapping Kang at 94. His spell of 3 for 14 was eclipsed by George Land with 4 for 30 as Moseley faded to 153 for nine at the close.
Kenilworth Wardens go through to Round Two after Dorridge conceded the tie because they were unable to raise a side.
An unbeaten 56 from 49 balls from Jamie Harrison guided Halesowen to a four wicket win at Ombersley in a tie that had been delayed a fortnight by a combination of poor weather and Ombersley’s successful pursuit of a place in the Final of the Graham Williamson Trophy. Declan Lines hit 55 from 49 balls as Ombersley reached 133 for seven by the end of their 20 overs. Harrison took 2 for 20 and Eddie Rhodes took 2 for 26 for Halesowen, who won with three balls to spare after Harrison completed a Man of the Match performance. Liam Gwynne, George Panayi and Jack Park took two wickets each for Ombersley who will, now, look forward to the Final of the Williamson Trophy which is to be played on Sunday 20th June at Barnt Green.
