WCCC

Birmingham and District Premier League prepares for potential title decider

3 September 2018

First place Knowle and Dorridge face second placed Berkswell with just two games remaining in the Birmingham Premier.

The Birmingham and District Premier League is readying itself for a nail-biting decider.

2017 champions Knowle and Dorridge host 2016 champions Berkswell on Saturday knowing victory will secure back-to-back titles for the first time since Walsall completed the treble in 2008.

But, with just two games remaining, Berkswell will say it’s in their hands as victory over Sam Reddish’s side and at home to Wolverhampton on the final game of the season will see the title return to the Lant for the second time in three years.

Another twist ahead of the encounter is that Knowle and Dorridge’s last defeat came 12 fixtures ago against the second placed outfit in June.

At the opposite end of the table, wins for Walsall (216 points) over Shrewsbury and Barnt Green (208 points) over Smethwick have pushed them further up the table, but neither are safe if Kenilworth Wardens (204 points), Dorridge (192 points) and Ombersley (191 points) secure two wins from two.

Bottom side Wolverhampton, who fell to defeat to third placed side West Bromwich Dartmouth last weekend, must beat Walsall and Berkswell and hope results go their way to survive.

With the culmination of the Vitality Blast, several Bears have featured and impressed in recent weeks.

U19s opener Rob Yates led Moseley to victory over Dorridge on Saturday with an unbeaten 151 from 145 balls, whilst Chris Wright fired 101 not out for Dorridge over the Bank Holiday weekend. Wright, who returned to the league for the first time since 2012, has taken 14 wickets and averaged 53 in nine games.

Spinning all-rounder Alex Thomson has also shone with the ball by taking 40 wickets at an average 10.90, the best in the league for bowlers who have at least three dismissals.

Elsewhere, opener Ed Pollock is averaging 38 and scored 91, 48 and 58 at the end of August, whilst his Barnt Green teammate, Matt Lamb, struck his second highest score of the season, 84, at Smethwick on Saturday and has the highest amount of 50s to his name this season with six. W.B Dartmouth batsman Andrew Umeed, who sits tenth in the runs column, also has 5 half centuries to his name and an average of 52.40.