THERE were encouraging signs for LEAMINGTON on their opening game of the Birmingham League Premier Division season but they ultimately fell to a disappointing defeat that was hampered by the wet weather.
Walsall batted first and soon lost Mike Hingley after he was caught by new wicket keeper Nathan Hooker. The experienced Tim Maxfield joined Walsall’s own stumper James Middleton and they took the score to 95 before Middleton was caught and bowled by Paul Lawrence for 49.
Maxfield made 51 before he fell to the leg spin of Jamie Marsh and Leamington’s bowlers stuck to their task well and although Walsall’s batters made starts, none could play a defining innings as they were dismissed for 192.
The weather had already intervened and a further break for rain saw Leamington’s target reduced in line with the Duckworth Lewis calculations.
Max Webber fell to an over ambitious hook and new men Alex Mellor and Adeel Sajid both looked good before falling to Ed Denham.
Captain Lee Hopkins tried to raise the rate but he was dismissed by Paul Byrne for 18 and when the inevitable rain came with Leamington on 88, they were some 25 runs behind the revised target.
There was better news for Leamington’s Sunday side who beat Old Hill at home in the ECB National Club Championship.
Damp conditions meant a 30 over a side game was played and two early wickets limited Old Hill to just 37-3. A half century (53) from Hamza Ahmed steadied the Black Country outfit, and he received some support from the middle order as the visitors reached 148-9.
In response Jo Wigley and Nick Couzens fell cheaply but the experienced David Hawkes was joined by Nathan Hooker and they progressed to 70 before Lee Hopkins took on the chase and his undefeated 53 saw Leamington ease to 152-5 with five wickets spare.
A typically cold and damp Bank Holiday weekend brought KENILWORTH WARDENS limited on-field action and little by way of success as their opening Premier League match away at Walmley on Saturday.
Only 23 overs were possible between the showers which meant the opening match of the 2016 season was abandoned.
After winning the toss, home opener Andrew Hendry came out with positive intent and found the boundary five times in making 35 from 32 balls.
His dismissal by Brinder Phagura slowed the scoring rate and the introduction of Blake Maher soon brought Wardens further success.
The Aussie all-rounder claimed the prize scalps of Tom Burton (15) and Freddie Coleman (3) as Walmley slipped from 46 without loss to 85 for three.
Junead Zaman produced a tidy support spell, before the rain finally terminated matters with home opener Jamie Harrison uneaten on 33 and the scoreboard showing 95 for three from 23 overs.
KENILWORTH travelled to Fillongley for their opening fixture in the Warwickshire League Division One but the match fell victim to the wet weather.
The home side batted first and after a steady start they slipped to 52 for 2 then 65 for 3 with Sayed top scoring for the hosts with 35.
Two further wickets fell with Fillongley on 110 before the rain came and the fixture was abandoned with Fillongley finishing on 133 for 5 off 34 overs.
Wickets were shared around the team with Phil Edmonds picking up 2 for 36, while debutant seamer Matt Dargan took 1 for 18 after an encouraging performance with the ball that saw him claim four maidens
Kenilworth took six points from the abandoned game on a day that the weather had the final say.
