Knowle & Dorridge beat reigning champions Walsall in Birmingham League

Aug 31 2009 by Mark Woodward, Birmingham Mail

OPENERS Richard Johnson (50) and Alec Baker (39) helped steer Knowle & Dorridge to victory over reigning Premier Division champions Walsall.

And while Jamie Spires’ side are striding ever closer to the title, Paul Wicker’s outfit look to be heading the other way as they prepare for a relegation battle.

K&D had to work hard for their 61-run victory, though, after some impressive bowling from Andy Gray (5-25) and Mo Sheikh (5-34) saw them reduced to 136 all out.

But with opener Paul Baker ruled out of their batting line-up after he broke a finger while fielding, Walsall struggled from the start and fell well short of their target, Richard Rawlinson (31) top scoring.

Wolverhampton are now the only side able to deny K&D the title – and they are 44 points in arrears.

They grabbed a vital one-wicket win at home to Barnt Green, Mike Smith (42) top scoring, but needed some cool heads at the close after slipping to 144 for seven.

Teenager Jack Biddulph (32 not out) and Chris Russell (24 not out) finally steered them home with four balls to spare.

Bromsgrove’s dismal display at home to Himley saw them slump to the bottom of the pile, Saurabh Sehgal (five for 13) the star bowler as they crumpled to just 62.

Their visitors had earlier totalled 158 for seven including a half-century from Nitesh Patel.

Moseley went down to Leamington in a thriller that saw Lee Hopkins bag the winning runs off the very last ball. The result was harsh on Huw Jones’ side and especially Usman Shabbir who hit an unbeaten 106.

Walmley suffered a losing draw at Shrewsbury.