Dan Brosnan in fine form as Beacon go top

Brosnan’s 111 proved the difference in an early season encounter between two clubs who both harbour genuine title aspirations.

His innings formed the basis of Beacon’s 243-7 after they had been asked to bat first on a testing surface at Walsall Road.

In reply, hosts Pelsall were then dismissed for 183 as Beacon claimed a 60-run victory, despite the best efforts of Todd Henderson, who thrashed a rapid 53 in the losing effort.

Opening bowlers Oliver Green and Leigh Passmore, who has joined from Swindon, both claimed three wickets apiece for Beacon, while South African Jarrod Alberts finished with figures of 3-20 from 13 overs as Pelsall were eventually ground down.

“When you look at the scores it gives the appearance of being a comfortable win,” said Beacon skipper Dan Green. “But the truth is Pelsall were never out of the game and for much of their innings were up with the rate.

“Oliver and Leigh got us off to a great start by taking three wickets in the first five overs and after that we were able to take wickets at regular intervals.

“The game was set up by Dan’s innings. That is the first century we’ve scored against Pelsall for quite some time. It was a great knock on a tough deck to bat on.”

The victory was Beacon’s first of the season after winning draws in their opening two fixtures and was enough to see them jump three points ahead at the top of the standings.

“It’s still very early days but it has been an encouraging start,” continued Green. “Pelsall are a very good team and this was a big win for us.”

Beacon’s win also saw them leapfrog Wednesbury, who saw their own bright start to the summer come to a shuddering halt at Cannock.

Having tasted victory in their opening two fixtures, Wednesbury found themselves on the end of a heavy defeat after they were blasted out for just 76, in reply to the home team’s total of 224-7.

The Cannock duo of Elliot Horton and Matt Robinson did most of the damage, both men finishing with figures of 3-11. Christopher Pickering top scored for Wednesbury with 24, though skipper Sajid Nazir was the only other batsman to reach double figures.

Nicholas Trebilcock had earlier laid the foundations for what was Cannock’s first win of the season, top scoring with 88 after the hosts had been asked to bat first. Matt Cottrell also impressed by hitting 52.

Penn are now just four points behind Wednesbury in fourth after a thumping 137-run win at struggling Swindon.

Having been asked to bat first, Penn racked up 251-8 in 50 overs. Giles Pargeter top scored with 40 but was one of seven players to pass 20 in an innings which proved to be very much a team effort.

Swindon, who had lost their opening two games, made a steady start to their reply as Matthew Fisher and Syed Ahmad put on 57 for the opening wicket.

But when Ahmad became the first of four victims for Matthew Ansell by being trapped leg before, it sparked a collapse which ended with the hosts being dismissed for just 114.

Mark Green also claimed four wickets, at the cost of just 11 runs, to leave Penn celebrating and Swindon already 19 points adrift at the bottom.