Birmingham League: Double Bank Holiday despair for struggling Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury’s tough start to the Birmingham League season continued as they were beaten at Harborne to cap a miserable Bank Holiday.

The London Road club slipped to defeat for the second time in 48 hours and remain 10th in the Division One table, only outside the bottom two on bonus points.

Finn Jones hit 77, while a quickfire 40 in just 21 balls from Dustin Melton helped Shrewsbury reach 258.

But they were unable to build on a superb start provided by opening bowler Harry Darley, who took three quick wickets to leave the hosts on 21-3.

Former Worcestershire star Alex Kervezee proceeded to hit 141 from just 121 balls to power Harborne, who had started the day just two points above Shrewsbury in the standings, over the line with five wickets and more than two overs to spare.

Shifnal also experienced little in the way of Bank Holiday cheer as defeat at home to Attock saw them slide into the bottom half of Division Two.

Jack Home’s 55 helped the home side reach 236 before they were bowled out.The young Worcestershire star then took two wickets early in the visiting side’s reply.

But Usama Khan struck a patient 56 to steady the ship while Ismail Mohammed, who hit 51, kept the Birmingham club on course for what ended up being a relatively comfortable four-wicket win. Shifnal’s cause was not helped by the concession of 39 extras.

A brilliant century from Basit Zaman helped Worfield record a welcome and heavy win at Milford Hall.

Zaman smashed 122 from just 94 balls, including seven sixes, as the visitors posted a mammoth 331-8 batting first. Joe Arnold, with 50 from 63 balls, provided valuable support.

Shahrukh Khan then removed three of Milford’s top order batters as what was already a tough ask for the home side quickly became impossible.

Khan finished with figures of 5-54 as Milford were bowled out for 225 to lose by 106 runs.