Barnards Green’s Phil Harris was the star of the show in the opening round of the Birmingham Premier League’s T20 Challenge Cup.

Harris smashed 15 sixes in a brutal 40-ball innings of 109 during his club’s 50-run win at Ombersley.

The visitors reached an imposing 236 for six on the back of this ferocious display of hitting before restricting their hosts to 186 for eight of which Rizwan Hussain made 48.

Old Hill marked their return to the Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League by becoming the first club to qualify for the second round.

The Haden Hill-based club who were Worcestershire County League winners in 2023 overcame county rivals Kidderminster by four wickets.

Opener Harry Sockett made 48 for Kiddy before former K&D wicket-keeper Ben Griffin added a breezy 30-ball 44 containing three sixes.

With Old Hill’s Jahanzib Khan claiming 2-15 the hosts were left to chase 133 and at 10 for 3 they looked up against it.

However a fine fourth wicket partnership of 95 between skipper Bilal Hassan (52no) and Ryan Derrick who made 55 from 39 balls then saw them most of the way to a win which was eventually completed with four balls remaining.

Liam Weston’s fine start to the season saw him take three wickets for Kidderminster.

Some powerful hitting from new recruit Jamie Harrison set K&D on their way to a 40-run Warwickshire derby win at Leamington.

Harrison’s 55-ball 71 dominated the visitors’ innings and with Neil Pinner (32) offering good support Spa were set 171.

The former Kidderminster all-rounder then proved equally effective with the ball to claim 2-20 from four tidy overs and despite 35 apiece from Tom Randle and Tom Warner the hosts closed on 131 for eight.

Wellington’s four-pronged attack tore through Worfield’s batting for just 62 in 12.5 overs before easing into the second round for the loss of just one wicket.

Indian pro Deepak Khatri smashed 85 from just 43 balls as Smethwick claimed a 22-run home win over Tamworth.

Jacob Flower and Suraj Chauhan shared seven wickets for the visitors who were set 151 to win but despite Riley Ward making 51 they closed on 128 for eight.

A breezy unbeaten 47 from Kalan Perera steered Dorridge to a six wicket win at Moseley. The visitors eased home with nine balls remaining after Abdullah Awan (40) had taken their hosts to 162 for eight.

Kenilworth Wardens and defending champions Harborne progressed via the toss of a coin after their scheduled first round games against Coventry & NW and Berkswell were abandoned.

Round Two matches to be played by Sunday June 9th 2024
Match 9: Kenilworth Wardens v Knowle & Dorridge
Match 10: Dorridge v Harborne
Match 11: Old Hill v Halesowen
Match 12: Barnards Green v Barnt Green
Match 13: W.B. Dartmouth v Wolverhampton
Match 14: Himley v Smethwick
Match 15: Wellington v Shrewsbury
Match 16: Bridgnorth v Shifnal