League match, Old Silhillians Sports Club, Solihull
1st inns Solihull Blossomfield 156 all out in 45 overs (Aman Khan 15-2-32-5, Nabeel Ahmed 8-0-40-1, Abbas 14-1-51-1, Sean Brown 5-1-17-2, Joe Hawkins 4-0-13-0)
2nd inns Kings Heath 158 for 3 in 35.1 overs Jag Patel 28 (5 x 4s, 67 minutes) Joe Hawkins 28 (5 x 4s, 60 minutes) Bernard O'Connor 24 not out (2 x 4s, 89 minutes) Adnan Ali 16 (4 x 4s, 27 minutes) Masood Khan 47 not out (8 x 4s, 1 x 6s, 55 minutes) Did not bat: Gregg Arrand, Sean Brown, Mohammed Abbas-Bhanji, Aman Khan, Graham Arrand, Nabeel Ahmed
Kings Heath won the toss on a baking hot afternoon, and skipper Graham Arrand needed some convincing to elect to field first. The pitch was not conducive to quick bowling, so opening bowler Aman Khan quickly reverted to bowling spin once his initial two over burst of pace was unsuccessful. The dry wicket started to take significant turn, so leg spinner Mohammed Abbas and Aman bowled almost 30 overs of spin between them, with Aman taking 5 for 32 and Abbas was providing able support at the other end. Abbas was unlucky to only take a solitary wicket, and kept a good length during his spell, however the batters were able to punish any errors on line. Blossomfield were eventually bowled out on the last ball of the innings thanks to a run out from Abbas on the deep midwicket boundary which secured maximum bowling points. Kings Heath received a solid start from opening bastmen Jag Patel and Joe Hawkins (both scored 28 runs), before Hawkins fell to a slow full toss from the opposition spinner, managing to hit the delivery into the grateful hands of the waiting mid on. Adnan Ali was composed on his return to the 3rd team following a spell with the first eleven, scoring all of his 16 runs in boundaries. Once Bernard O’Connor and Masood came together the match cruised to a conclusion, thanks to a quick 47 not out from Masood (in only 55 minutes) and Bernard giving able support with 24 not out. Kings Heath eventually eased to victory with nearly 10 overs in hand, for their second league win of the season and fourth overall from five games.
