Wem 258 all out beat Barnards Green 234 all out by 24 runs

MARTYN Davies opened the season with an inspirational century as Wem opened their Birmingham League Two camoaign with a thrilling 24 run win at Barnards Green.

Harry Chandler kept the scoreboard ticking over for Wem early on as the home side looked to Zahid Kafiat who made an impact with five wickets.

The fall of Chandler, caught by Ashlea Brewer off Jonathan Dovey for 33, left Wem on 54-4 with Kafiat completing his 5-29 with the wicket of Tom Astley.

Davies and Ben Peel steadied the ship with a 61 run seventh wicket stand to guide Wem to 117 when the latter was trapped LBW by Josh Dickenson for 32.

Davies was supported by a strong tail end display as Andrew Harrison (24) before finally being caught by Dovey off Zain Ul-Hussain for a match defining 103 off 109 deliveries with Danny Cohen (18) pushing Wem to 258 to defend.

Cohen led Wem's reply with the key wicket of Ryan Tongue (29) included in his 4-35.

Reehan Edavaleth (31) and Josh Blunt (40) revived the home middle order before falling to Mohit Kale (3-29).

Brewer ensured the match remained in the balance with a spirited tail end display pushing Green to 215 when she fell to Peel for 45 and Astley completed the home side's demise for 235 with the wicket of Dovey for 18.