Champions too hot despite Harris haul

PHIL Harris took seven wickets for Barnards Green but it was not enough to stop reigning champions Smethwick from maintaining their perfect start to the season with a fifth successive victory.

- By DAVID LAWRENCE

Gavin Stephens

Harris’ new-ball burst claimed the opening quartet before he later mopped up the tail to finish with the outstanding return of 7-46.

Former Nottinghamshire opener Bilal Shafayat’s 114 was again the mainstay in Smethwick’s 273 all out, while Worcestershire coach Kadeer Ali (41) and Indian ace Deepak Khatri (40) made useful contributions.

The Malvern-based visitors made a decent start to their quest for 274 with skipper Ryan Tongue (76) and Ollie Halion (38) putting on 94 for the second wicket. But tight bowling from Indian spinner Sagar Udeshi (2-30) plus four wickets from Khatri kept them in check and they finally fell 11 runs short of their target, finishing on 262-9.