BERKSWELL capitalised on Shrewsbury’s loss at Walsall to further tighten their grip of the Birmingham & District Premier Division One title, after beating Dorridge by 70 runs.
Dominic Ostler’s side gained enough momentum during the reduced-innings encounter to fire their way to a winning total of 161-6 from the 120 balls faced, before reducing the hosts to 91-8 in reply.
The encounter appeared very much in the balance, however, when Berkswell slipped to 47-4 in the ninth over after Dorridge elected to field.
A stand of 56 between Danial Chaudhry (27) and Tom Lewis (60) helped change their fortunes, with Berkswell managing to bat their way to a commanding total despite the dismissal of the latter.
Nick James (23no) and Mohammed Ahmed (11no) hit a quickfire 39 between them before the end of the innings, a score which provided the visitors with every chance of an 11th victory of the season.
Dorridge struggled to put together a partnership to ever threaten the 162 target set, only mustering a 41-4 score by the tenth over, before losing three wickets in the space of three overs to finish off any hope of a revival.
Ahmed (2-9), Thomas Milnes (2-16) and Nick James (2-20) all played their part in ensuring a miserly batting spell for Dorridge – who top scored through Aarib Khan’s total of 18.
The win puts Berkswell in good stead ahead of two home ties against Kenilworth Wardens (Saturday, noon) and Swardeston (Sunday, time TBC) in the league and ECB National Club T20 quarter-finals respectively.
Berkswell also get their Floodlit Ton-Up Cup campaign underway against Dorridge next Monday (5.45pm) at Glasshouse Park, a tournament that holds plenty of value in their efforts to win a double-treble.
Joining the two clubs in Pool A are two-time winners Leamington from Division Two, whilst Kenilworth Wardens, Knowle & Dorridge and Bedworth sit in Pool B, all in hope of reaching Friday’s (August 23) final.
