KIDDERMINSTER clinched a winning start to their Birmingham League Premier One campaign after pulling off a 42 run success over rivals Shrewsbury.
Warwickshire recruit Adam Hose made an immediate impression with the bat as he scored a run-a-ball 84 after Kidderminster elected to take first strike.
Hose had plenty of support with the bat after Nathan Round with 35 and Sinel Gunarathne on 24 had supplied a solid start to the innings.
There was still time for Callum Bennett to cut loose cracking 67 off 59 balls, boosting the Kidderminster total to 252 all out off 46 overs.
The scoreline could have been a great deal better as Kidderminster were 249 for five at one stage before suffering a late order collapse instigated by the bowling of Jean Pierre Erasmus who claimed three for 32 while Luke Thornton finished on three for 48.
Shrewsbury took up the chase in reply as openers Will Parton, who plundered 71 and Dan Humes with 52, put on 88 for the opening stand.
But the Shropshire side then promptly collapsed, losing their last six wickets for a mere 29 runs as they were removed for 210 all out after 46 overs.
Josh Tidmarsh made a major impact with the ball by bagging four for 36 while the reliable Round took two for 31.
Anyone who turned up late at Cherry Hill Road would have felt short-changed as Barnt Green completely overwhelmed Kenilworth Wardens by 10 wickets.
Wardens had no answer to the Green's bowling attack as they crashed to just 41 all out after 21 eventful overs.
Worcestershire coach Andy Sutton showed the way with a wonderful five for 20 return off his seven over spell.
At the opposite end, England star Olly Stone on his return from injury, would have delighted the selectors with his figures of one for six off five overs.
Robbie Shurmer also got in on the act with one for eight while Adam Hines polished off Wardens' woeful innings with two for one.
None of the Wardens batsmen managed to make double figures with No.11, ex Leicestershire's Alex Wyatt making the highest score of eight!
The Green's reply only lasted for four overs.
By that stage new Worcestershire recruit Ed Pollock had pummelled 40 runs off 17 balls as the Green romped to 46 without loss.
Halesowen made a highly promising start to life in Premier One after pushing defending champions Berkswell all the way before going down by just four runs.
Former Warwick and Leicestershire batsman Atteq Javid carried his bat by making 105 not out as Berkswell posted an imposing target of 267 for five from their allotted 50 overs.
Support was close at hand with former Derbyshire player Tom Milnes making a quickfire 63 off 37 balls while skipper Nick James added 33.
Harry Kitchen proved the pick of Halesowen's bowling attack by taking two for 35 from his 10 overs.
Halesowen went off in pursuit when they replied, with former Stourbridge opening bat Alex Bingham firing a half century against the champions star studded bowling attack.
But it was Ed Bragg that threatened to take the game away from Berkswell with a fabulous 105.
Halesowen were looking well placed in reply at 214 for five before the introduction of Mo Ahmed into the attack changed the complexion of the game as he mopped up the lower order when taking four for 28.
It left Halesowen agonisingly short at close on 263 for nine.
Himley made a hugely impressive start to their Premier Two challenge with an exciting four wicket win over Wem.
That was after Himley chased down Wem's total of 229 for nine with just one ball remaining.
Most of the Shropshire side's total was supplied by a fifth wicket stand of 142 between Martyn Davies who made 66 while former Derbyshire and Glamorgan stalwart Graham Wagg added a further 60.
Saul Anstey made an encouraging start with the ball with figures of four for 40 with the steadfast Jamie 'Dodge' Turner taking three for 50.
Himley then had to thank Oliver Cox who kept his cool to put them contest beyond Wem's reach with a splendid 110 not out after skipper Ollie Westbury had earlier struck 40, Wagg finishing with three for 36.
Bromsgrove took a trip into the unknown when they travelled towards Bridgnorth to face Birmingham League newcomers Worfield.
It proved an exciting encounter with Bromsgrove finally winning by just five runs.
Skipper Jayden Levitt led from the front by making 40 as Bromsgrove set a target of 205 all out.
Worfield looked well out of contention at one stage when reduced to 137 for seven before the tail wagged.
Eventually Alex Wilkinson with three for 38 and Will Tuffin who took three for 47 applied a sufficient enough brake to bowl out Worfield for 200.
Bromsgrove entertain last season's South Staffordshire champion s Lichfield this Saturday while Himley travel to relegated Walsall.
Halesowen have a huge date in Premier One when they host Knowle and Dorridge who contain West Indies star Carlos Brathwaite within their ranks.
Kidderminster visit Leamington Spa while Barnt Green go to Smethwick
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