Shrewsbury openers share 179 to shine with big first win - Birmingham League round-up

Shrewsbury romped to a first Birmingham League Premier One victory of the season with an eight-wicket victory on their travels.

A high-scoring affair saw more than 550 runs at Ombersley’s John Woolman Ground, where Shrewsbury’s openers Peter Clark and George Hargrave stole the show.

Visitors Shrewsbury put the Worcestershire side in to bat and may have rued the call after Ombersley chalked up 269/7 from their 50 overs.

Daniyal Khan (89) and skipper wicketkeeper Joe Dodd (62) shared a third wicket stand of 111 and it looked like the home side, who started the weekend above Salop, were in a strong position.

Dustin Melton (3-46) and Gabe Downes (3-53) both snared three wickets apiece.

But Shrewsbury were in scintillating mood in response.

Clark scored a 102-ball 117, with 17 boundaries, and Hargrave carved out 92 as they put on 179 for starters.

Shrewsbury’s Finn Jones added 45 as the target was comfortably chased down with almost 10 overs in hand.

The 20-point victory lifted Salop out of the drop zone to eighth in the top flight.

Elsewhere, Shifnal claimed a third victory from four in Premier Two as they overcame a miserable start to recover to beat Kidderminster.

A nightmare opening had hosts Shifnal reeling at 9/4 in a rain-affected clash. Joe Johnson, John Smith and Chad Brandrick were all out for a duck batting at two, three and four as Liam Weston (3-33) ripped through the top order.

Shifnal began to stabilise but things still seemed bleak at 88/7 and 109/8 before Imran Tariq came to the party.

He struck 85 from 56 balls batting at 10 to leave his side 247/8 from 50 overs.

Visitors Kidderminster were set a revised target of 181 from 26 overs as rain loomed and Shifnal’s consistent bowling attack stepped up.

Alex Renton led the way with 3-21. Johnson claimed 2-24 before a wicket each for Tariq, Jack Twigger, Shaun Lorimer and Brandrick as Kidderminster fell short by 51 runs.

Worfield were beaten on the road at Tamworth as the hosts claimed a five-wicket win inside the final three overs.

Returning Worfield star Basit Zaman (88) and keeper Rohel Peters (63) shared a fourth-wicket stand of 146 to appear to put the visitors in a decent position in Staffordshire.

Worfield finished 242/9 from their 50 overs and the hosts had to reach 232 from a revised 45 overs.

Tamworth’s Australian Alex Cappelluti struck a patient unbeaten 63 at three, helped by Alec Price (76). Riley Ward’s 37 helped to sneak over the line with 2.3 overs remaining.

Worfield slipped to ninth with just a single victory from their opening four contests.