SOLIHULL Municipal won a low scoring contest against local rivals Olton by 73 runs and continue to sit top of the Warwickshire Premier Cricket League.
Municipal batted first on a track that offered plenty of assistance to the seam bowlers with stand-in opener James Roslyn making a patient 31 from 61 balls before becoming Jamie Hawkins third wicket at 72-4.
Joe Jarema (20) and Craig Bissett (34) added 33 for the fifth wicket and when Kevin Crotty claimed three quick wickets the hosts had slipped to 129 for 8.
Matt Stanley counter attacked to good effect in striking four boundaries and one maximum in an entertaining 27 from 13 balls before Aristides Karvelas 2/22 wrapped up the innings on 158. Hawkins finished with 3-31 and Crotty 3/46.
Olton found the Municipal in-form opening bowlers in irresistible form as they collapsed to 58 for 8 with Alex Roslyn claiming 5-27 and Shoaib Mahmood 3-23.
Phil Trilloe, batting at number nine, offered some late resistance by becoming just the third batsmen to reach 30 in the match before being last out caught by Jon Stanley off Behram Ali in the 32nd over.
Solihull Municipal’s second team travelled to continental Star and bowled the hosts out for 226 for whom Kurshid top scored with 53 as Tom Blake and Nathan Reynolds claimed three wickets a-piece.
In reply Mark Gray and Gary Edwards became the club’s first openers with a combined age of 100 to share a century opening stand.
Gray departed immediately after compiling a maiden half century with the score on 118. Edwards eventually fell for a seasons best 75 and Municipal closed on 183 for 5.
This weekend sees the first team travel to Kings Heath while the second’s host Standard.
