Berkswell keep marching on - The Solihull Observer

Berkswell keep marching on

Solihull Editorial 9th Jul, 2014 Updated: 21st Oct, 2016   0

Birmingham Premier League

Kenilworth Wardens 180/9 v Berkswell 181/4

CRICKET: BERKSWELL maintained their place at the top of the Birmingham Premier League after recording another victory this time defeating near neighbours Kenilworth Wardens by six wickets at their Glasshouse Park ground.

Winning the toss visiting skipper Dominic Ostler elected to bowl but Wardens openers Arjun Bath and Nick Seager had taken 34 runs off the Berkswell opening attack of Tanveer Ahmed and Dave Brignull until Seager (16) was caught in the covers by Nick James off the last ball of the sixth over to give Brignull a wicket. In the next over and four runs later Ahmed removed Bath (19) when he was bowled.




Anthony Wilkinson and Sithansu Kotak then put together a sixty four run partnership in 24 overs, but Kotak (37) slashed at a full length ball from Darren Maddy and could only watch as Ostler held the catch at slip.

The loss of Kotak was soon followed by the departure of Martin Donald (4) eight runs later – the batsman edging the ball to Phil Neale behind the stumps to give Maddy a second wicket. With the scoreboard reading 111 the home side’s fifth wicket fell this time Wilkinson (32) also being caught behind again off the bowling of Maddy.


Jason Young (7) became the next batsman to lose his wicket when he was brilliantly caught by Mark Best on the boundary – the fielder running from deep square leg towards mid-wicket and taking the ball above his head to give bowler Nick James a wicket.

This left the Wardens on 126 for 6 in the 44th over. Maddy (4-42) claimed his fourth wicket in the 49th over when he trapped Eian Marillier (9) lbw and he was again in the action two overs later when he held on to a catch to dismiss Dan Wood (6) off the bowling of Chris Cheslin the scoreboard now showing 155 for 8.

The ninth wicket fell at 157 when Cheslin bowled Raj Chohan (22), but the visitors were unable to close out the Wardens innings and tailenders Alistair Wilkinson and Mark Pidgeon added another 23 runs to see the innings through to 180 whilst remaining 18 and 5 not out respectively.

The Berkswell reply started poorly with James Neale (2) being given out lbw in the first over but the loss of Neale proved to be only a temporary blip as Mark Best (58) and Nick James (68) compiled a second wicket partnership of 102 in 27 overs, and James and Tom Lewis (41) a 70 run third wicket partnership in 14 overs to steer the visitors towards victory.

It was left to the Warwickshire old and new duo of Maddy (2 not out) and Tom Milnes (5 not out) to see the visitors through to another win.

A pleased Dominic Ostler said: “That was another good win for us as Kenilworth Wardens are a good side.

“At the half way stage in the season we’re sitting at the top of the table and providing we continue to put in same the levels of performance and commitment for the rest of the campaign, we have every chance of claiming the title.”

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