1's Win League Opener

Halesowen bounced into the League season with a comprehensive thumping of Coventry and North Warwicks last weekend. Whilst neighbouring teams were snowed off Halesowen managed to dodge the tricky weather and put up a sterling performance all round. Captain Richard Brooker said ‘ it was much more like us this weekend and despite some changes in personnel from last season we played like we did in the back half of 2015 when we went unbeaten. We needed to start the campaign well and this is just what we were looking for’. Batting first Coventry meandered to an under par score of 174-8 thanks to some tight bowling from youngsters Alex Bullingham (2-26) and Masharaf Shazad (1-29) backed up by Brooker (2-29) and Hassan Quami (2-39). In reply Halesowen faced a reduced target of 132 due to weather interruptions but passed that easily in the 24th over with Ed Kilbee (74*) and Mark Fisher (34) putting on 98 for the first wicket as Halesowen won by 9 wickets.