Knowle & Dorridge show title credentials before early finish

Ali Wilkinson claimed one for 73 as Leamington toiled against title-challenging Knowle & Dorridge on Saturday. Picture submitted

After home stars Michael Hill and Alex Phillips had smashed 80 apiece in Knowle & Dorridge’s 249 for four declared, the visitors had reached eight without loss at the end of the first over when the heavens opened.

This leaves Martin Donald’s side ensconced in mid-table one game before the season’s midpoint, while their hosts retain realistic prospects of bringing the title to Warwickshire for the first time since 2011.

Phillips added 54 with opening partner Richard Johnson before the Derbyshire keeper fell for a 30-ball 35.

This brought Aussie Big Bash star Hill to the crease and the left-hander proceeded to a largely untroubled, even-time, unbeaten 81.

He added 144 with Phillips before the former Leamington skipper was trapped by Ali Wilkinson for a 112-ball 83, which included ten boundaries.

A late flurry from home skipper Dave Smith (22) and a rain break then combined to generate a declaration after 45 overs.

Wilkinson (1-73) and Sitanshu Kotak (1-52) were the pick of Wardens’ attack before a second rain interruption brought about an early conclusion.

Andy Whitehall’s brilliant ton steered Wardens’ 2nd XI into a match-winning position before heavy rain abruptly ended their Birmingham League Division One clash with Penkridge before the visitors could launch their response.

The opener stroked seven fours and six maximums in his superb 100 to blast James Jordan’s table-toppers to a formidable 242 for two declared in 40 overs.

He shared in an opening stand of 155 with Arjun Bath, whose supporting role brought an excellent 82.

Following Whitehall’s dismissal, Bath was joined by the in-form Robin de Regt, who raced to an unbeaten 41 before his skipper, with one eye on the weather, called a premature halt to their innings after 40 overs.

Off-spinner Richard Jones (1-43) was the pick of the Penkridge bowlers.

Harry Jefferies-Readman grabbed the headlines before Wardens 4th XI’s Cotswold Hills Division Seven clash with Bidford 2nds fell victim to the weather.

The teenage leg-spinner claimed five for 27 from eight tidy overs as the visitors lost eight wickets for 34 to slump from 97 without loss to 131 for eight.

This seemed an unlikely outcome when Bidford’s openers Macer Nash (64) and Cavern Farrow (32) were making good progress on a wet pitch.

However, Jefferies-Readman combined with occasional trundler Jack Vickery, who claimed two for 11, to give the hosts the whip hand when the rain arrived.