A new name will be engraved on the Graham Williamson Trophy after a Worcestershire Academy XI defeated last season’s runners-up Ombersley by 74 runs and (Twenty20) Challenge Cup holders Smethwick brushed aside fellow Premier Division One side Kidderminster by eight wickets. Both teams were appearing in the semi-finals of the competition for the first time and they will, now, meet in the Final, next Sunday 1st May, at a venue to be confirmed in the next 48 hours.

Batting first, after winning the toss, the Academy XI, drawn, mainly, from players registered to BDPCL member clubs, reached 172 all out in 39.2 overs with a top score of 49 from West Bromwich Dartmouth’s Ismail Mohammed. Barnards Green batter Rehan Edavalath added 41 and useful contributions, also, came from the Kenilworth Wardens duo of Reeve Evitts (23) and Henry Cullen (20). Ex-Worcestershire man Gareth Andrew was the most successful Ombersley bowler with 3 for 19. In reply, Ombersley crashed to 20 for five before Ben Griffin (38) and David Brazier (20) staged a revival. Barnt Green seamer Cameron Jones took 3 for 14 and Evitts finished with 2 for 23 for the Academy, who, eventually, dismissed their hosts for 98 with Barnards Green’s Josh Dickenson picking up two late wickets for five runs.

In the second semi-final at Smethwick, the home side, after winning the toss, dismissed Kidderminster for 121 in 37.4 overs. Skipper Neil Pinner hit 53 but the next highest scorer was Lee Ashton with 14. The pick of the Smethwick attack was leg-spinner Tazeem Chaudry Ali with 3 for 25 and there were two wickets each for Abaan Khan and Bilal Shafayat. Smethwick, then, made light work of their target with Kadeer Ali leading the way with 40, well supported by Qamar Khan (35 not out) and Shafayat (27 not out).