Wardens are Premier class

Kenilworth Wardens celebrate their elevation to the top flight of the Birmingham League.

Martin Donald’s side returned to the top flight following a three-year absence after a tense four-run win at third-placed Wellington was followed by a comfortable 97-run home triumph over Smethwick.

And should Wardens extend their unbeaten run to 19 matches when rock-bottom Brewood visit Glasshouse Park tomorrow, they will seal the Division One title two matches before the season’s finale.

First-season skipper Donald, while understandably ecstatic, is already looking ahead to next season, however.

He said: “It’s a fantastic feeling to be promoted. The lads have done really well this year and it is great to be back in the Premiership after three years away.

“One more win will also see us promoted as champions and we are going to give it a good shot this weekend.

“We return to the top flight a much stronger club than when we left in 2010. Our second and third XIs contain quite a few good young cricketers, so we now have the sort of depth necessary to perform well in the highest standard league in the country.”

Wardens’ hopes were given a further boost when Indian all-rounder Sitanshu Kotak signed a new contract.

Kotak, whose stay is now extended to an unprecedented 19 seasons, has taken more than 50 wickets in addition to scoring nearly 600 runs during the promotion campaign.