Birmingham & District Premier League Champions 2023
Author: Mike Brady
Date: 17 Oct 2023
After a “soggy” start to the season “The Griffs” found themselves bottom of the league after the first round of white ball games.But the change to red ball cricket saw them win seven games on the bounce, moving to the top of the table, despite being penalised three times for slow over rate and being penalised by the loss of six points!
A further spell of wet weather during late July and early August resulted in more games being abandoned or affected by rain, which coincided with a dip form and a consequent slide down the table and apparently out of the chase for the title.
However, the return of white ball cricket brought about a change in fortune and after winning four of the last six games the title was won in an exciting climax to the season when title rivals Knowle and Dorridge stumbled on the run in and at the last hurdle to leave The Griffs champions by a margin of six points.
The title victory is the first for the club in thirty-eight years and particularly satisfying as the team overcame poor form and adversity with a strong team spirit. Somerset star Andy Umeed was often unavailable due to county championship commitments (congratulations Andy on your new contract – well deserved!) and with Keith Barker being unable to bowl resources were stretched to the limit at times. Squad players answered the call to perform on many occasions and particular mention should be made of youngsters Essa Nadeem and Ali Hassan who performed with great credit and promise for the future.
APRIL
The season started with a 62-run defeat to newly promoted Wolverhampton, in the only game played in the League, followed by an abandoned game at Barnt Green and defeat to Knowle and Dorridge.
MAY
The game at Kidderminster was called off after water had seeped under the covers, followed by defeat to Berkswell. Wins against Smethwick and Barnards Green followed, and in the latter game Andy Umeed scored 122 from 131 in a best of season third wicket partnership of 192 with Asim Shoaib.
JUNE
Better weather and four straight wins against Kenilworth Wardens, a last ball victory in fading light against Halesowen, a one wicket win against Ombersley and victory at Shrewsbury, where Keith Barker rode his luck scoring 192 from just 146 balls - the seasons best performance.
JULY
Mixed fortunes as rain returned, started with a revenge win at Wolverhampton, an abandoned game against Barnt Green due to a thunderstorm when well placed to chase a winning draw total in 20 overs, and ended in defeats to Knowle and Dorridge and Berkswell and an abandoned game against bottom of the table Kidderminster.
AUGUST
More rain caused the game against Smethwick to be abandoned, followed by victory in a low scoring game at Barnards Green where Yadvinder Singh took a season's best of 8 for 29, defeat to Kenilworth Wardens and victory at Halesowen in yet another rain affected game.
SEPTEMBER
Victory at Ombersley (the best performance by some way given the make-up of the team on the day) and a “nail biting” one wicket victory against relegated Shrewsbury, resulted in an agonising wait for players, members and supporters, whilst glued to the live stream from Knowle and Dorridge awaiting the outcome to determine the champions. With Knowle and Dorridge slipping to defeat celebrations began and League President Nick Archer arrived hotfoot from our title rivals to present a jubilant Moseley captain, Usman Awan and his team with the Championship Trophy.
LEADING PERFORMANCES 2023
Andy Umeed 545 runs from 610 balls at an average of 49.55
Asim Shoaib 449 runs from 655 balls at an average of 29.93
Keith Barker 420 runs from 408 balls at an average of 38.18: 18 wickets at an average of 19.17
Ali Awan 323 runs from 439 balls at an average of 23.07: 28 wickets at an average of 22.54: 10 catches
Abdullah Awan 300 runs from 379 balls at an average of 18.75: 35 victims behind the stumps
Yadvinder Singh 39 wickets at an average of 16.10
Awais Mohammed 39 wickets at an average of 13.69
A jubilant First XI
After a “soggy” start to the season “The Griffs” found themselves bottom of the league after the first round of white ball games.But the change to red ball cricket saw them win seven games on the bounce, moving to the top of the table, despite being penalised three times for slow over rate and being penalised by the loss of six points!
A further spell of wet weather during late July and early August resulted in more games being abandoned or affected by rain, which coincided with a dip form and a consequent slide down the table and apparently out of the chase for the title.
However, the return of white ball cricket brought about a change in fortune and after winning four of the last six games the title was won in an exciting climax to the season when title rivals Knowle and Dorridge stumbled on the run in and at the last hurdle to leave The Griffs champions by a margin of six points.
The title victory is the first for the club in thirty-eight years and particularly satisfying as the team overcame poor form and adversity with a strong team spirit. Somerset star Andy Umeed was often unavailable due to county championship commitments (congratulations Andy on your new contract – well deserved!) and with Keith Barker being unable to bowl resources were stretched to the limit at times. Squad players answered the call to perform on many occasions and particular mention should be made of youngsters Essa Nadeem and Ali Hassan who performed with great credit and promise for the future.
APRIL
The season started with a 62-run defeat to newly promoted Wolverhampton, in the only game played in the League, followed by an abandoned game at Barnt Green and defeat to Knowle and Dorridge.
MAY
The game at Kidderminster was called off after water had seeped under the covers, followed by defeat to Berkswell. Wins against Smethwick and Barnards Green followed, and in the latter game Andy Umeed scored 122 from 131 in a best of season third wicket partnership of 192 with Asim Shoaib.
JUNE
Better weather and four straight wins against Kenilworth Wardens, a last ball victory in fading light against Halesowen, a one wicket win against Ombersley and victory at Shrewsbury, where Keith Barker rode his luck scoring 192 from just 146 balls - the seasons best performance.
JULY
Mixed fortunes as rain returned, started with a revenge win at Wolverhampton, an abandoned game against Barnt Green due to a thunderstorm when well placed to chase a winning draw total in 20 overs, and ended in defeats to Knowle and Dorridge and Berkswell and an abandoned game against bottom of the table Kidderminster.
AUGUST
More rain caused the game against Smethwick to be abandoned, followed by victory in a low scoring game at Barnards Green where Yadvinder Singh took a season's best of 8 for 29, defeat to Kenilworth Wardens and victory at Halesowen in yet another rain affected game.
SEPTEMBER
Victory at Ombersley (the best performance by some way given the make-up of the team on the day) and a “nail biting” one wicket victory against relegated Shrewsbury, resulted in an agonising wait for players, members and supporters, whilst glued to the live stream from Knowle and Dorridge awaiting the outcome to determine the champions. With Knowle and Dorridge slipping to defeat celebrations began and League President Nick Archer arrived hotfoot from our title rivals to present a jubilant Moseley captain, Usman Awan and his team with the Championship Trophy.
LEADING PERFORMANCES 2023
Andy Umeed 545 runs from 610 balls at an average of 49.55
Asim Shoaib 449 runs from 655 balls at an average of 29.93
Keith Barker 420 runs from 408 balls at an average of 38.18: 18 wickets at an average of 19.17
Ali Awan 323 runs from 439 balls at an average of 23.07: 28 wickets at an average of 22.54: 10 catches
Abdullah Awan 300 runs from 379 balls at an average of 18.75: 35 victims behind the stumps
Yadvinder Singh 39 wickets at an average of 16.10
Awais Mohammed 39 wickets at an average of 13.69
A jubilant First XI
After a “soggy” start to the season “The Griffs” found themselves bottom of the league after the first round of white ball games.But the change to red ball cricket saw them win seven games on the bounce, moving to the top of the table, despite being penalised three times for slow over rate and being penalised by the loss of six points!
A further spell of wet weather during late July and early August resulted in more games being abandoned or affected by rain, which coincided with a dip form and a consequent slide down the table and apparently out of the chase for the title.
However, the return of white ball cricket brought about a change in fortune and after winning four of the last six games the title was won in an exciting climax to the season when title rivals Knowle and Dorridge stumbled on the run in and at the last hurdle to leave The Griffs champions by a margin of six points.
The title victory is the first for the club in thirty-eight years and particularly satisfying as the team overcame poor form and adversity with a strong team spirit. Somerset star Andy Umeed was often unavailable due to county championship commitments (congratulations Andy on your new contract – well deserved!) and with Keith Barker being unable to bowl resources were stretched to the limit at times. Squad players answered the call to perform on many occasions and particular mention should be made of youngsters Essa Nadeem and Ali Hassan who performed with great credit and promise for the future.
APRIL
The season started with a 62-run defeat to newly promoted Wolverhampton, in the only game played in the League, followed by an abandoned game at Barnt Green and defeat to Knowle and Dorridge.
MAY
The game at Kidderminster was called off after water had seeped under the covers, followed by defeat to Berkswell. Wins against Smethwick and Barnards Green followed, and in the latter game Andy Umeed scored 122 from 131 in a best of season third wicket partnership of 192 with Asim Shoaib.
JUNE
Better weather and four straight wins against Kenilworth Wardens, a last ball victory in fading light against Halesowen, a one wicket win against Ombersley and victory at Shrewsbury, where Keith Barker rode his luck scoring 192 from just 146 balls - the seasons best performance.
JULY
Mixed fortunes as rain returned, started with a revenge win at Wolverhampton, an abandoned game against Barnt Green due to a thunderstorm when well placed to chase a winning draw total in 20 overs, and ended in defeats to Knowle and Dorridge and Berkswell and an abandoned game against bottom of the table Kidderminster.
AUGUST
More rain caused the game against Smethwick to be abandoned, followed by victory in a low scoring game at Barnards Green where Yadvinder Singh took a season's best of 8 for 29, defeat to Kenilworth Wardens and victory at Halesowen in yet another rain affected game.
SEPTEMBER
Victory at Ombersley (the best performance by some way given the make-up of the team on the day) and a “nail biting” one wicket victory against relegated Shrewsbury, resulted in an agonising wait for players, members and supporters, whilst glued to the live stream from Knowle and Dorridge awaiting the outcome to determine the champions. With Knowle and Dorridge slipping to defeat celebrations began and League President Nick Archer arrived hotfoot from our title rivals to present a jubilant Moseley captain, Usman Awan and his team with the Championship Trophy.
LEADING PERFORMANCES 2023
Andy Umeed 545 runs from 610 balls at an average of 49.55
Asim Shoaib 449 runs from 655 balls at an average of 29.93
Keith Barker 420 runs from 408 balls at an average of 38.18: 18 wickets at an average of 19.17
Ali Awan 323 runs from 439 balls at an average of 23.07: 28 wickets at an average of 22.54: 10 catches
Abdullah Awan 300 runs from 379 balls at an average of 18.75: 35 victims behind the stumps
Yadvinder Singh 39 wickets at an average of 16.10
Awais Mohammed 39 wickets at an average of 13.69
