Birmingham League: Fenton hurt by power of Wasim (30 June 1999)

30 June 1999

Birmingham League: Fenton hurt by power of Wasim

Mike Berry

West Bromwich Dartmouth's Rob Fenton will not forget Wasim Akram's Birmingham League debut for Smethwick in a hurry. The Dartmouth No 8 broke his jaw and lost a couple of teeth when he helped a shortish delivery from the Pakistani captain into his helmet grille.

Fenton, 24, is on a liquid diet, but he said: "It's part of the game and it's just bad luck. He was trying to intimidate me, but I was up for it and I was disappointed at myself for getting hit."

Wasim, reputedly on a £20,000 contract financed by a consortium of local Asian businessmen, arrived 15 minutes late, scored 11 of Smethwick's 247 for nine, and then took three for 39 as Dartmouth hung on for a draw on 143 for eight.

Neil Stoddard's 158 dominated Chippenham's 312 for six in the West of England Championship win over Trowbridge while former England bowler Neal Radford played a key role in the Cherwell League derby between Banbury and Banbury Twenty. Radford's 76 off 69 balls helped Banbury to a three-wicket win with one over to spare.

A statistical double in the Devon League produced two ties, with North Devon finishing all square for the second successive Saturday against Seaton, and Paignton and Exeter also ending level.

Shakil Ahmed, St Buryan's Pakistani Test import, took six for seven off 10 overs in the Cornwall League win over Mullion, who were whittled out for 58.

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph