KIDDERMINSTER suffered an agonising start to their Birmingham League Premier One campaign when rivals Walsall snatched a slender two run success following a nail biting finish at Chester Road.

Walsall struggled with the bat when they took first strike and soon found themselves in trouble at 60 for five until skipper Dan Betty and strike bowler Jordan Bulpitt began to turn matters around.

Bulpitt led the recovery with 45 while Betty added 40 as Walsall were finally removed for 207 all out in the 44th over.

Chris Steele with three for 54 and Liam Weston who took three for 33 caused most of the damage while Barney Morgan bagged two for 26.

In reply, Kidderminster found runs equally difficult to come by before their former Worcestershire opening batsman Matt Pardoe threatened to take the game away from Walsall.

Pardoe, who will skipper Herefordshire in this season's Minor Counties Championship cracked 81 off 100 balls before being bowled by Raven Chahal with the score on 184 for nine.

The last pair of Ben Parker and Chris Steele slowly began to inch Kidderminster towards their target before Parker was sensationally bowled by Luke Stynes just three runs short of victory.

Premier One rivals Barnt Green blitzed Moseley by 174 runs to signal their intentions this term, The Green were dealt a hammer-blow right at the start of their innings when prolific Warwickshire pinch-hitter Ed Pollock was caught off the second ball of the game without scoring.

The Green didn't need to worry as Jacques Banton took charge to smack 110 off 132 balls, his innings containing 10 fours and a six.

Banton found support from wicketkeeper Amrinder Brar who struck a further 46 while Dom Harding hit an almost run-a-ball 59 not out taking the Green to 261 for six from their allotted 50 overs.

Kishan Patel plundered 37 for Moseley in reply, but there was precious little else as Moseley were removed for just 87 all out in the 23rd over.

Strike bowlers Andy Sutton and Adam Hines kept a tight reign on proceedings but it was Oxfordshire seamer Robbie Shurmer who snapped up the best figures of three for 11 before Banton mopped up the tail by taking three for two off seven balls.

HALESOWEN went run crazy in Premier Two when producing a 103 run success over Wolverhampton.

Opening bats Jamie Harrison and Jamie Harris shared an opening stand of 143, Harris hitting 78 of that total while Harrison supplied 52.

Alex Hinkley continued the charge with 76 before skipper Alexei Kervezee added the icing on the cake, the former Worcestershire player plundering 93 from 62 balls.

That enabled Halesowen to set a huge total of 345 for eight, which proved too much for Wolves in reply who were then dismissed for 242 all out, Will Nield providing top score of 32.

Bromsgrove pulled off a 112 run success over newly promoted Pelsall.

Former Kidderminster allrounder Connor Smith struck 53 while Jayden Levitt added 45 as the pair put on 104 for the first wicket.

Runs continued to flow as Freddie Fallows with 49 and skipper Mark Evenson with 38 not out led a lower order assault enabling Bromsgrove to post an imposing total of 290 for nine.

Opener batsman Tom Boyd laid a foundation for Pelsall with 45 while Andrew Bentley and Todd Henderson kept the runs flowing as both struck 37.

But Bromsgrove were always well ahead of the asking rate as Pelsall eventually perished for 178 all out, Evenson with three for 27 and Fallows who took two for 18 proving their importance to the side.

Himley had to settle for a six wicket defeat to Dorridge.

Former Worcestershire prospect Ollie Westbury skippered Himley and started with 31.

But it was Callum Lea who really caught the eye by scoring 64 while Ollie Walker with 42 and Mahaaz Ahmed who made 30 offering support as Himley hit 235 for seven from their 50 overs.

It wasn't enough as Dorridge recovered from an indifferent start to their reply when Suffolk's Ben Shepperson put Himley's bowling attack to the sword with a superb 114 not out off 118 balls, his innings included 11 fours and four sixes.

Shepperson found a willing partner in Ashish Chakrapani who added 54 as Dorridge dashed to a winning 239 for four.

THIS Saturday, Barnt Green entertain Ombersley at Cherry Hill while Kidderminster visit West Beromwich Dartmouth.

Halesowen attempt to follow up their run harvest by hosting Barnards Green while Bromsgrove host Wolverhampton.

Himley hope to get off the mark when they travel to Kenilworth Wardens.