Title challengers out-Whitt their high-flying rivals

HALESOWEN kept their Birmingham and District Premier League title hopes alive with a 97-run victory over fellow challengers Knowle & Dorridge at Seth Somers Park on Saturday, a result built on a fine all-round display from Chris Whittock.

- By DAVID LAWRENCE

Put into bat, Halesowen made 285 for seven with Whittock leading the way with 93, helped by Alex Kervezee’s useful 44. Ollie Currill was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3-53 from his ten overs.

In reply, opener Jamie Harrison went for a duck but K&D rallied with George Maddy (41) and Neil Pinner (47) putting on 76 for the next wicket. But thereafter the visitors found runs hard to come by with Eddie Rhodes (3-23) and Ed Bragg (2-24) particularly impressive as the visitors were dismissed for 188 in the 41st over.

Smethwick’s title defence continues at a pace after they stormed to a 167-run win at relegation-threatened Wolverhampton.

The league’s front-runners reached 251 for nine through half-centuries from Gurbaj Singh (90) and Bilal Shafayat (55). There were three wickets apiece for Sam Ellis and Charles Jackson, while wicket-keeper Will Nield took six catches.