Another immensely frustrating day caused by poor weather saw little change at the top of Premier Division One but there was a significant result at the other end of the table where Shrewsbury defeated Kidderminster by three wickets in the only game that started on time and was played all the way through to a finish. After losing the toss and batting first, a second wicket stand of 129 between Sinel Gunarathne (106) and Vikai Kelley (50) placed the visitors in a strong position but the return of Jack Shantry from professional umpiring duty turned the game in Shrewsbury’s favour. Having picked up an early wicket in his opening spell, the left-arm seamer snapped up three more victims to finish with 4 for 40 from 17 overs. Gunarathne, who faced 158 balls, and Kelley were the only batters from Kidderminster to reach double figures as they closed on 191 for seven in 55 overs. In reply, the home side were given a solid start by skipper Will Parton (57) and George Hargrave (27) before 41 from ‘keeper Matt Swift helped them to a welcome 20 points which moves them closer to the four clubs immediately above them at the foot of the table.

Elsewhere the picture was bleak with three matches abandoned during the innings of the side batting first and the other two games reduced, significantly, after a late start. The closest game was the return meeting of Leamington Spa and Knowle & Dorridge which, again, featured the first appearance of a West Indian international player. Carlos Brathwaite made his debut for K & D in the opening game of the season and, this time, it was the turn of Shane Dowrich, for Leamington, having arrived in the U.K. at 5.30am, this morning. Both sides hung around long enough for a 20 over per side contest to take place and it was Leamington who took a winning draw after defending a total of 130 for eight. Top scorer was Luke De Souza, while Chris Cheslin (4 for 44) and Gareth Davies (3 for 34) were the successful bowlers for K & D. Dowrich made little impact, being dismissed for three but, hopefully, he won’t suffer the same fate as Brathwaite, who had his car stolen during his first game. After 15 overs of their reply, K & D stood on 86 for three, needing 45 from the last five overs to win but they fell two runs short on 128 for four with Sam Reddish unbeaten on 52. Six runs were required from the final over, but skipper Jon Wigley (3 for 38) held his nerve to restrict the visitors to three runs in an over that included a wicket and three dot balls.

The match between Kenilworth Wardens and Barnt Green was reduced to 22 overs a side and, this time round, Wardens made a much better fist of it! Dismissed for 41 by Barnt Green in match one, Wardens raced to 181 for six with Ali Zaryab starring with 98 from 48 balls before he was run out. Andy Sutton took 3 for 44 from seven overs for the visitors who suffered a major blow when Ed Pollock was dismissed without opening his account from the second ball of the innings from Tommy Rex, who went on to record 4 for 51 from seven overs. Ben Chapman-Lilley (53 not out) played a lone hand for Barnt Green who finished on 102 for seven. The clash between top of the table Smethwick and third placed Moseley was abandoned with the leaders on 21 without loss in the fifth over, a fate that, also, befell the match between Halesowen and Berkswell and the game between Ombersley and Shifnal. Berkswell’s Grant Thornton had taken 3 for 31 to reduce Halesowen to 88 for three from 18.5 overs before the weather intervened, while Shifnal had reached 87 for one in the 28th over before rain had the last word.