Halesowen’s season has surged into life after 5 consecutive weeks undefeated and now the form team in the Division but Captain Richard Brooker isn’t getting carried away with it as the wily spinner has been here before and seen it all before.

Commenting after a mauling given out to Penkridge he said ‘Look, we all know that with 10 games gone you have a pretty good idea of where you think your strengths and weaknesses lie in your squads. The players and off-field personnel have worked very hard to help us get to 4th which just proves after the start we had how hard we have to work to go 2 places higher and still stay there. Let’s not kid ourselves here this year is a watershed year for Birmingham & District Premier League Cricket. There are changes coming to this league and everyone knows it. We have to be in the right place when those changes come. Other clubs have mapped out success routes over recent seasons so the blueprint is there and we need to adapt and follow and we are. That said, our first team is gelling well, everyone is now chipping in and stepping up, Hassan Qaumi(91*) this week and others over recent weeks and we will need to continue that in July and August. Let’s put it like this I would much rather be where we are at the moment than where we were two months ago. It’s up to us to keep doing the same things well and add a bit more too if we can.’

Rana Hassan hit 46 as Penkridge struggled to 147 all out with three wickets each to Eddie Rhodes (3 for 26) and Richard Brooker (3 for 33). After the early loss of Ed Kilbee to Rizwan Gulzar, Halesowen strolled to victory without further loss thanks to an unbroken partnership of 146 between Hassan Qaumi (91 not out) and Mohammed Shauib (54 not out).

Meanwhile the 2nd XI went down by 4 wickets to Astwood Bank. Batting first Halesowen totalled 166 having been 12-4 at one point. Only Hassan Akram (43) and Richard Cox (41) showed any real steel with the bat as Kiwi seamer David Sewell (6-63) ran through the top order. Astwood Bank passed the total 6 wickets down with Top Sheppard 62 being their main run scorer. The 3rd XI bowled Alveley out for just 189 thanks to Carl Bust who in the Autumn of his career ripped apart the Alveley batting to return figures of 5-19. In reply Halesowen knocked off the runs in 36 overs to win by 6 wickets.

Finally the 4th XI were 97 all out in their game against Alvechurch with only Callum Gutteridge (42) featuring with the bat. Alvechurch knocked off the runs easily to win by 7 wickets

Next weekends fixtures

1st XI 12:00 start - (H) Pershore CC - 1st XI - Seth Somers Park, Halesowen
2nd XI 12:30 start - (A) Brockhampton CC - 2nd XI
3rd XI 13:00 start - (A) Kidderminster CC – 3rd XI
4th XI 13:00 start - (H) Five Ways Old Edwardians CC - 2nd XI - Earls High School, Halesowen