Brothers are a hit on a Green day for Beacon

Last year’s top flight champions started the summer with a one-wicket success away to a Fordhouses side who were plying their trade in Division Two of the Birmingham League last season.

And it was the Green brothers – skipper Dan, with a vital innings of 84, and all-rounder Ollie, with a six-wicket haul and half-century, who played key roles in Beacon’s opening day victory.

“It was a cracking game of cricket,” said captain Dan, who saw his side reach their total from the final ball of the 49th over.

“There were a couple of times where we staged recoveries with both bat and ball. They had a good partnership in their innings but we pegged them back.

“And then we were 29-4 in reply. But myself and Dan Brosnan dug in and then Ollie played his natural game and put us on track for victory.

Belief

“We had the game pretty much won when we were seven down but lost a couple of wickets and in the end it was a nervy finish.

“But we got across the line and it was a good win for us.To beat a side who were playing in Division Two of the Birmingham League last season will give us plenty of belief.”

After opting to put Fordhouses in, Ollie Green bagged three early wickets to reduce the hosts to 35-3.

Niall Cooper and Vikai Dass (55) then staged a recovery with a century stand for the fourth wicket as Fordhouses progressed to 166-3.

But their hopes of posting a substantial total were dashed as they were reduced to 184-7 with Cooper fell seven short of a deserved century.

Green finished with figures of 6-58 from 15 overs while 14-year-old Oliver Walker took 2-38 as Fordhouses fell for 219.

Beacon were then reeling in reply with Adam Peat bagging three early wickets to leave the visitors 29-4.

Dan Green and Dan Brosnan (30) launched a rescue act with a 91-run stand.

The skipper finally fell for a well-crafted 84, but his younger sibling then took up the mantle with a quick-fire 55 from 39 balls to take Beacon to the brink of victory.

He fell with two runs needed quickly followed by a ninth wicket, but the visitors’ last pair saw them over the line with an over to spare.

Beacon are now eagerly-awaiting their next challenge, a home clash with neighbours Wombourne, who started their season with a winning draw at home to Milford Hall.

Basit Zaman took the individual plaudits for Wombourne with a superb century on his debut.

After seeing his side lose two wickets in the first over without a run on the board, Zaman took centre stage and went on to make a 144 from just 98 balls with 17 fours and 10 sixes.

He shared a 107-run fifth-wicket partnership with Mike Brookes (76) to help the home side to 301-8 from their 50 overs. Australian Liam Ward-Armstrong chipping in with 34.

The runs continued to flow when Milford Hall batted with opener Waqar Saleem making 80 and Ibbadat Thaman and Sahal Malvernkar 47 and 46 respectively.

But with Ward-Armstrong capping a fine debut with 4-68, the visitors had to settle for a losing draw as they ended on 271-7.

Pelsall skipper Dan Pennell was delighted to see his side chalk up an opening day success on their return to the feeder league system.

South African import Johan Maritz made an immediate impression with a five-wicket haul to help them to a three-wicket success against Whittington.

“The most important thing on the opening day is to get a win,” said Pennell.

“It doesn’t matter how you do it, it’s just good to start with a win. With the restructure I think there will be a few surprise results in the first few weeks.

“The sides that where in the Staffs Clubs last year will be keen to get the better of the ones that have come down from the Birmingham League.

“Whittington had a few new signings and it was nice to get over the line.

“We were teetering a bit at 49-4 but Jake Lee and Tom Wright then put together a brilliant stand that won us the game.

“It was really good to see them step up after we had lost our top order.”

Spinner Maritz picked up 5-32 from 14.3 overs to help dismiss Whittington for 141. Jonathan Moore provided support with 3-21.

Michael McNaught (34), batting at number seven, top scored for the visitors.

Mohammad Hasnain took four wickets to reduce Pelsall to 49-4 but Lee (37) and Wright (50) then joined forces for an 84-run stand as Pelsall reached their target with three wickets to spare.