Birmingham League: Shrewsbury form continues as fortunes mixed in relegation scrap

Shrewsbury continued their impressive recent Birmingham League Premier Division One form to secure a home victory over Dorridge.

Salop are unbeaten in four clashes in a row that started with the shock victory on the road at high-flying Smethwick in the top flight last month.

It has propelled the London Road men away from the bottom two relegation places, though fourth-bottom Shrewsbury still have work to do with just 27 points separating themselves and the dotted line.

Victory over Dorridge was another shot in the arm as it took Shrewsbury above the Solihull visitors, who are looking over their shoulders.

The hosts finished 260 all out from 53.5 overs after electing to bat as Rhodri Evans top scored with 64.

Dorridge’s Imaad Mahmood struck 83 but support was insufficient as the visitors finished 45 runs short as Salop continued their recovery.

Evans claimed 3-58 with two wickets apiece for Dustin Melton and Harry Darley.

Shifnal pulled further clear of any fading relegation concerns in Premier Division Two with an important victory at lowly Kidderminster.

The visitors’ Jack Home was star of the three wicket success, as he struck 88 from 87 balls from the middle order as Shifnal chased down Kidderminster’s 205/9. Ben Gibbon had earlier claimed 3-41 for Shifnal.

Shifnal looked in bother at 82/5 but Home, supported by Tom Fell (47) and brother Charlie Home (45*), helped their side firmly back on track.

The chase was completed with three wickets and eight overs in hand.

Shifnal are three places and 43 points clear of the bottom two.

County rivals Worfield still occupy one of the drop zone spots as they sit second-bottom with just nine points separating the sides in the bottom four.

The Davenport Park hosts pushed hard but were edged out in a 28-run defeat to third-placed Tamworth.

Tamworth elected to bat but managed just 156 all out as Worfield’s Ravan Chahal shone with 5-60.

Worfield’s response lacked any sort of conviction at 28/3 and 41/5 on a day bowlers were very much on top. Harris Ajaz top scored with just 21 as Tamworth’s James Rudge (3-29) and Ed Smith (3-32) excelled to hand the visitors victory.