Report by Paul Smith (Stumped4Words)
Harborne and West Bromwich Dartmouth got the 2022 Birmingham Premier League Division Two season off to a thrilling start with a high-scoring tie at Sandwell Park.
And once again the visitors’ Indian professional Swapnil Gugale was at the centre of the action thanks to a superbly calm final over from which the hosts’ last pair realised only five of the six runs required for victory.
Karan Bharaj top scored for the visitors with 77 but it was the 92 runs added by Harborne’s final three wickets which ultimately proved crucial.
Dartmouth’s quest for 262 was led by new boy Tim Maxfield who smashed a whirlwind unbeaten 71-ball 103 including eight sixes, but with 12 runs required from the same number of deliveries he had the added difficulty of being in the company of no.11 Drew Malek.
The home side’s last man was ultimately left needing two runs from Gugale’s final delivery and when he survived a tight run out decision both sides had amassed 261 for nine and honours were even.
Acting captain George Land was left with mixed emotions following the opening day thriller.
“The game ebbed and flowed but in the end we were disappointed not to win it,” he said.
“That said, we were without two of our main bowlers and facing opponents who have just come down from Division One.
“Swapnil bowled an incredible final over and you have to give some credit to Maxfield for the innings he played.
“We did well to get to 261 as we stuck to it with the bat after losing too many wickets in the middle of our innings. Karan played very well and Ollie Davidson provided good support before the lower order finished things off really strongly.
“We then dropped a catch but otherwise did well in the field given that we had a bowler with tonsilitis and another one carrying an injury.”
Bharaj’s 94-ball 77 contained seven boundaries and a six, but none of his top-order colleagues were able to build a partnership with him.
As a result, when Harris Ajaz removed Tejas Wagle and Jimmy Clifford in quick succession Harborne were struggling at 104 for five.
Oliver Davidson (26) then helped Bharaj add 59 recuperative sixth wicket runs but when he was followed back to the pavilion by the newly-returned Matt James the visitors were 169 for seven with 15 overs remaining.
On a number of occasions last season Harborne’s long batting line-up proved its worth, and three useful partnerships underlined this point at the start of the new campaign.
After Dan Wright helped Bharaj take the total beyond 200, the left-arm quickie added a further 31 with Mike Bevan before last man Land lashed an unbeaten 13-ball 22. Wright finished with a composed 50-ball 28 not out.
This left the hosts chasing 261, a target which Ismail Mohammed (31) and former Old Hill and Walsall opener Danny Cox (25) reduced by 63 before both fell to Oliver Davidson who finished with the fine figures of 2-16 from seven overs.
Although Ibbadat Thaman then contributed 36, Maxwell was increasingly fighting a lone hand as Dartmouth’s chase subsided to 186 for seven when Sajid Ahmadzai fell to Bevan in the 41st over.
But the former Brewood batter found a useful ally in veteran keeper Ian Stevenson and the pair added 65 rapid eight-wicket runs to push the hosts to the brink of success.
When Jasper Davidson bowled the home skipper 11 were needed from 10 balls and after Ajaz was run out a over later Gugale held his nerve in a pulsating finale.
