Harrison burst keeps Himley in mix

The seamer, fresh from making his debut for Worcestershire last week, took five wickets for just 11 runs as Himley routed Smethwick at Stourbridge Road.

A visiting line-up which included Pakistan Test player Mohammad Yousuf were bowled out for just 114 before Chris Tranter smashed an unbeaten 66 as the hosts cruised to victory in 23 overs.

The result saw Himley stay second in the standings, though the gap to leaders Barnt Green is now just 15 points.

Wedge said: “Nick’s figures were quite brilliant, I think at one stage he had taken five for five.

“It’s extremely rare to take figures like that, to get five wickets at any time is a great achievement so it was really was something special.

“I thought it was a very good all round performance in the field from us. Dan Smith and Richard Jones set the tone with some tight bowling and in the field we held our catches.

“If a few chances go down early on it can change the course of the game but we kept the pressure on and everything went to plan.

“Then Chris Tranter came in and played a great innings. When you have a smallish target like that to chase it’s exactly what you need.”

With just seven games to go there is now no denying Himley are in the thick of the title race, though Wedge says the players are focused on the next game at West Bromwich Dartmouth this Saturday.

He believes team spirit has been a big factor in their success this year.

He added: “I think it’s been a massive contributing factor.

“It’s obviously helped we have been winning games, it’s not like we’ve always been up against it - then it’s only natural it might get a bit niggly.

“When things have not gone our way we have dug in and stuck together.

“There is a good atmosphere around the club and I think that helps. As players we do see each other off the pitch and are in contact during the week.

“It’s not like we turn up on a Saturday as a bunch of strangers and play cricket.”