Himley claim morale-boosting derby win over Wolverhampton

The Stourbridge Road outfit, rock bottom of the Birmingham League after being slapped with a 27-point penalty after this month’s match with Berkswell was abandoned due to a dangerous pitch, claimed a five-wicket win over their old rivals in a rain-affected encounter.

Wolverhampton, batting first, reached 137-6 from 37 overs, skipper Joe Stanley top scoring with an unbeaten 29.

Himley were set 112 to win from 23 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method and got there with room to spare despite further rain delays.

It was the perfect response to Saturday’s 79-run defeat at Knowle and Dorridge but for Wolverhampton defeat capped a miserable Bank Holiday weekend, after they had been thumped by 197 runs at Barnt Green 48 hours previously.

Halesowen climbed to the top of Division One thanks to Saturday’s six-wicket win over Barnards Green but their match with Moseley was then one of two abandoned on Monday and there are now four teams within four points of the summit.

Smethwick are part of that pack after following up Saturday’s 198-run win at Moseley with an equally impressive performance at Berkswell.

Warwickshire’s Dan Mousley struck a half century to help the home side reach 194 but the visitors made short work of the chase, thanks to the brilliance of Isaac Mohammed.

The teenager struck 10 fours and six sixes in an unbeaten 104 as Smethwick reached a revised target of 151 in under 22 overs.

Old Hill sit bottom of Division Two after a miserable week ended with double Bank Holiday despair.

The Haden Hill outfit, hit with a 29-point deduction for a dangerous pitch in their match against West Bromwich Dartmouth earlier this month, were edged out in agonising fashion twice in the space of 48 hours.

After losing by one wicket to Stoubridge on Saturday, they then watched leaders Kenilworth Wardens scrape over the line with two balls to spare to claim a three-wicket triumph in Monday’s rain-affected encounter.

Kidderminster are also struggling and were denied the chance of a morale-boosting win when their match with Stourbridge on Monday was cut short by rain.

It was a better day for Dartmouth, who moved up to fourth in the table thanks to a 10-wicket win at Coventry and North Warwickshire. Aaron Patel took five wickets as the home side were dismissed for just 99.