Wardens are bashed by Knowle and Dorridge

Wardens arrived at Station Road with their youngest-ever Birmingham League side and club captain Martin Donald’s absence further compounded by the lack of Scott Stenning, Keith Bell and Sitanshu Kotak.

Stand-in skipper Anthony Wilkinson won the toss and Nick Sale (33) and Nick Seager (23) got off to useful start with a 44-run opening partnership.

However, that was as good as it got for Wardens as their inexperienced middle order was soon exposed.

Ryan Parnell and Harry Johnson were run out and Nathan Edwards (19) was unable to capitalise on his start.

Wilkinson was the third run-out victim and Warwickshire seamer Ben Brookes (3-23) finished proceedings as Wardens staggered to 153 all out in the 43rd over.

Requiring early wickets, Wilkinson’s men were soon party to a devastating display of batting as Keath tore into the bowling.

Apart from Rajan Bhatti’s economic opening spell, Keath took a liking to the rest of the inexperienced attack, striking 19 boundaries off only 50 balls.

The Australian was well supported by Alex Phillips whose 43 not out from 53 balls played second fiddle to an innings that will live long in the memory.

Mark Pidgeon lost a crucial toss as Wardens 2nds went down to a three-wicket defeat at home to Penkridge.

Inserted on a wicket that was wet in places and wetter in others, survival was the name of the game early on as Ben Rex and Pidgeon attempted to negotiate seaming conditions.

Rex attempted to accelerate the run rate and was caught in the outfield for 16, with James Madley (18) departing in similar cirumstances.

Pidgeon’s 94-ball vigil ended for 29 and Penkridge trundler Price then tore through Wardens’ middle and lower order.

Swinging the ball with ease, he removed in-form Paul Henderson (31) and Dan Phillips (14) on his way to figures of five for 24 as Wardens stuttered to 159 for nine from their 50 overs.

Nick Whiting’s three for 17 reduced the visitors to 35 for four before a doughty 66-ball 30 from Marson.

But when he was removed by Joe Jordan (2-30) thoughts of a Penkridge victory were a distant pipe dream at 104 for seven.

At this stage, 15 of the 17 wickets taken in the game had fallen to seamers, but Pidgeon’s remaining options were all spinners.

And, with the wicket visibly drying, Penkridge’s experienced lower order batted effectively, with Manning (19) and Pope (31 not out) providing the aggression around the experienced Brown (30 not out) to fire the already-relegated visitors to victory.