Amit John gets Walsall off to a fine start
Walsall batsman Amit John was the headline act as the club cricket season finally swung into action.
After a delayed start to the summer due to the coronavirus pandemic, the first weekend of the Birmingham League’s Graham Williamson Trophy competition, which sees 24 clubs placed into four regionalised groups of six, saw John stoke his way to a superb unbeaten century to steer his side to a two-wicket win away to Harborne.
Former England batsman Jonathan Trott lined up for Harborne and compiled a brisk 48 from 45 balls, before he was dismissed by James Rogers (3-57), as the hosts posted 243-8 from their 40 overs.
Walsall made a disappointing start to their reply. They lost their first three wickets with just 32 on the board before slipping to 112-6.
But John stood firm to lead the victory charge, hitting four sixes and 16 fours on his way to an unbeaten 135.
Luke Stynes added a useful 28 batting at number eight while Ravan Chahal (13 not out) shared an unbroken ninth-wicket stand of 48 with John as Walsall got home with seven balls remaining.
Elsewhere in Group Two, there was a tense finish at Pelsall where the home side went down by just four runs to West Bromwich Dartmouth.
by the slender margin of four runs in pursuit of 248 for six.
Shahzeb Raja top scored with 92 for Dartmouth in their total of 248-6.
But Pelsall, who gained promotion last summer through the play-offs after winning the South Staffs County League, put up a brave chase.
Their reply was built around an unbeaten 72 from Sam Butcher, but they fell, agonizingly short after losing their third wicket at 236. Todd Henderson and Navdeep Poonia (60) also batted well for the home side but all-rounder Henderson’s dismissal, after smashing 69 from 37 balls, proved to be crucial.
Smethwick started their season with a tight six-run success at Himley.
Hamza Ahmed (56 not out) and Hasnain Mahmood (41) were the main contributors as Smethwick posted 182-8 in 40 overs.
Spinner Ben Robinson (4-26) and Matt Jeavons (3-35) impressed with the ball for Himley.
Dan Durman (47) led Himley’s response but when he was dismissed with the score on 169, Smethwick took advantage with the home side falling for 176 on the final ball of the day.
In Group One, Wolverhampton slipped to a 34-run defeat at home to Bridgnorth.
An opening stand of 101 between Ian Gregory (57) and James Kinder (46) and an unbeaten 59 from Simon Gregory saw Bridgnorth to 218-3.
Wolves slumped to 9-3 before Charlie Home (29) and Will Nield (77) led a recovery. But after reaching 124-4, the home side then slipped to 184 all out.
Kidderminster were beaten by 67 runs at Barnt Green in Group Four.
Warwickshire’s Ed Pollock (101) and Ben Chapman-Lilley (81 not out) helped fire Green to 229-1.
Kidderminster were restricted to 162-9 in reply, Shameer Ahmed top scored with 48.
Halesowen eased past Ombersley’s 141-6 for the loss of three wickets, thanks to a half-century from Jamie Harris.
