DORRIDGE enjoyed the perfect start to their new-style Graham Williamson Trophy campaign with a 35-run victory over local rivals Knowle & Dorridge in group three.
Dorridge batted first and opened with Gary Hawkins and Ed Thompson who gave the home side a great base to build on with a 55-run opening partnership.
When Thompson was caught for 20 off Cheslin, Hawkins was joined by 17-year-old Roshan and they took the score to 100 when Dexter trapped the opener lbw for 39.
Ben Shepperson scored 12 before being caught off Mottram and then Dorridge lost two quick wickets when Dave Ball (8) was bowled by Davies and captain Joe Dodd (0) fell leg before to Stenning with a wild swipe.
Roshan was keeping the scoreboard ticking by batting sensibly and maturely but at 172 he was the sixth wicket to fall when caught off Stenning for a fine innings of 51.
Luke James with 30 off 28 balls, Awais Mohammed (10) and Fahad Sabir (18no) kept up the run rate and the innings finished on 230-8.
Davies with 3-34 and Stenning’s 2-26 were the pick of the bowlers as they took the pace of the ball and bowled wicket to wicket.
K&D’s reply started in the worst possible way as Awais removed two excellent batsmen in Alex Phillips, caught at first slip, and then bowled Neil Dexter, both without scoring, to leave them 4-2.
Hamzah went at 38-3, lbw to Mills for 15, before Stenning and Sam Reddish steadied the ship. They had added 45 when Zak pinned Stenning lbw for 36 which saw Tom Smith come to the wicket.
He scored 25 in helping Reddish add 54 before he was bowled by Fahad. Reddish batted well, keeping it simple and hitting the bad ball but, with little support from the tail, K&D’s score ended well short of the target on 195-9.
Reddish was last man out, caught by James off Roshan for 77. Dorridge’s spinners Fahad (3-31), Zak (1-38) and Mills (2-36) bowled well but praise has to go to Awais for his spell of 5-1-15-2.
Dorridge are at Moseley this weekend.
DORRIDGE 2nds’ season got off to a disappointing start with a nine-wicket defeat at Moseley.
Dorridge batted first and James Reynard and Grant Harrison looked comfortable against a good attack of Tom O’Donnell and Ahmed.
When the score reached 17, Reynard (8) was unlucky to play on to O’Donnell and Harrison was joined by captain Jonathan Rhodes. They added nine runs before a collapse halted all progress.
Harrison (12) and Rogers-Collen (0) fell on 26, quickly followed by Alex Smith (0) and John Palmer (1) to make it 38-6.
The experienced Steve Hooper and Mark Sagabashi then got their heads down to add 29 valuable runs but, when Hooper was caught behind for 19 and Sagabashi was bowled for 9, the tail could only add eight more runs as Dorridge were dismissed for only 78. O’Donnell took his first five-wicket haul with 5-19.
Moseley opened with Azam and Roheel and, as in the game’s first innings, faced an accurate attack, this time of Rahim and George Sitch.
They weathered the storm and, when the opening bowlers were rested, attacked the slower pace of Sagabashi, Hooper and Rogers-Collen.
The latter made a breakthrough, having Azam (39) well caught at silly mid-on by Seeley to make it 66-1, but it was soon over as Mohammed hit two quick boundaries. Roheel finished on 26.
The third team got off to a great start with a resounding 137-run trouncing of Tanworth & Camp Hill at home.
Dorridge batted first and scored briskly through their 40 overs to make 199-6. Ben Stockley led the way with 51 and he was supported by Rob Collen with 41 not out, Adil Uddin 26 and Graham Gilbert 25.
The visitors were soon dismissed for 62 with only one batsman – Jake Wright – reaching double figures with 24.
The wickets were shared around with Graham Gilbert taking 3-6, Matt Salmon 3-4 and Dan Laugharne 2-5. Early days of course, but Dorridge 3rds are top of the table already!
