As the 2022 Premier Division One season began, most eyes were focussed on Station Road where Knowle & Dorridge entertained last season’s runners-up Leamington. A large crowd gathered to see the League debut of West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite, but it was his fellow Bear Craig Miles who dominated the game with an impressive all-round performance with both bat and ball. After winning the toss and inviting the visitors to field first, K&D struck two early blows through Warwickshire’s Henry Brookes, who dismissed Luke de Souza and Jon Wigley with short rising deliveries that were caught in the gulley region. Oxfordshire’s Harry Smith (38) looked in good form but it was a fourth wicket partnership of 80 between Miles (78) and Ollie Currill (43) that proved to be the foundation for Leamington’s total of 227 all out. The innings fell away after Miles’s dismissal at 197 for six with three wickets each for Henry Brookes (3 for 26) and Chris Cheslin (3 for 53). Both K&D openers fell without scoring to Miles and Currill but a third wicket stand of 62 between Hamza Sheikh (64) and Ethan Brookes (32) repaired the damage until Brookes hit a full toss down the throat of wide long-on from Dinuk De Silva’s opening delivery. The batters crossed which meant that Brathwaite had to wait two balls at the non-striker’s end before he faced his first delivery. De Silva bowled him a rank long-hop which was launched high into the air but not long enough to clear the boundary. Pierce Ryan ran in from deep square leg, misjudged the flight, and took a stunning catch falling backwards. Brathwaite returned to the pavilion to the disbelief of most of the crowd as he joined a long list of world-class players who have found the competition in the League to be a great leveller. After his dismissal, K&D slumped to 128 for seven before Henry Brookes (37) and George Maddy (24) staged a recovery. Miles’ return to the attack came at exactly the right time and he took two more wickets to finish with 3 for 21 as K&D were dismissed for 215 with one ball remaining, a great game of cricket to open the season.

Another close game took place at nearby Berkswell where the 2021 Champions held on to win by four runs against newly promoted Halesowen. Ateeq Javid carried his bat for 105 in Berkswell’s total of 267 for five but it was an unbeaten 63 from 37 balls from Tom Milnes that helped Berkswell to their final total which proved to be just enough as Halesowen closed on 263 for nine, led by a fine innings of 105 from Edward Bragg. Opener Alex Bingham hit 50 but four late wickets from Mohammed Ahmed (4 for 28) saved the day for Berkswell. The match between Barnt Green and the other newly promoted side Kenilworth Wardens was not so close with Wardens collapsing to 41 all out after being invited to bat first by their hosts. None of their batters reached double figures as Andy Sutton took 5 for 20. There were twelve extras and number 11 batter Alex Wyatt scored eight after coming to the wicket at 32 for nine. England bowler Olly Stone made a return for Barnt Green after injury, but it was Worcestershire’s Ed Pollock who took the eye with an undefeated 40 from 17 balls as the home side raced to victory by 10 wickets in just four overs. There was, also, a close finish at Moseley where the home side were defeated by Smethwick by three wickets with four balls remaining. Abraash Khan top scored with 84 in a Moseley total of 246 all out with Warwickshire seamer Manraj Johal taking 4 for 53 for the visitors. On a day when many current first-class players showcased their talents in the League it was a former first-class player who proved to be the headline act in this match. Former Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire batter Bilal Shafayat, on his League debut for Smethwick, hit 105 from 98 balls to turn the match in his side’s favour after Qamar Khan had opened with 61 from 108 balls. Kidderminster defeated Shrewsbury by 42 runs at Chester Road in a match that was notable for a late order collapse in each innings. After Warwickshire’s Adam Hose hit 84 and Callum Bennett added 67, Kidderminster were well set on 249 for five before collapsing to 252 all out in 46 overs with Jean-Pierre Erasmus taking 3 for 32 and Luke Thornton taking 3 for 48. In reply, an opening stand of 88 between Will Parton (71) and Dan Humes (52) set up a perfect platform for Shrewsbury but once Parton departed at 181 for five, the Shropshire side lost their last six wickets for 29 runs, to slump to 210 all out with Josh Tidmarsh taking 4 for 36. 87 from Chad Brandrick proved to be the key innings in Shifnal’s total of 181 against Ombersley with Richard Jones taking 4 for 26 and George Panayi taking 3 for 35 for the Worcestershire outfit. Apart from 57 from Herefordshire’s Nick Hammond, the Ombersley innings was disappointing, and they fell away to 111 all out with three wickets apiece for Jack Edwards (3 for 14), Alex Renton (3 for 25) and Shaun Lorimer (3 for 32).