NEW Halesowen captain Richard Brooker paid tribute to his side after seeing them secure a winning draw against promotion chasing Tamworth.

Taking charge of the team for the first time, Brooker hailed a solid performance and fine debut for new signing Ed Kilbee who hit a century along with keeper Wes Griffiths.

And Brooker’s predecessor as skipper, Faisal Shahid, shone with the ball as he notched five wickets.

Brooker said: “I couldn't believe my luck when we were asked to bat as I would definitely have done that had I won the toss.

“Ed Kilbee has come into the team and showed what we have been missing all season although not before we lost early wickets.

“Ed and Wes (Griffiths) got us out of a tight spot with their hundreds and, despite being quite different in their makeup, were equally impressive.

“I was very happy with our performance in the field and Faisal Shahid picked up five wickets with an impressive spell of bowling at the death.”

But in all too familiar fashion, the early Halesowen wickets tumbled early on.

Stebbings (10), Moseley (2), Shahid (9) and Gabriel (9) all fell cheaply and they were wobbling at 80-4 when Griffiths joined Kilbee, then on 46, at the crease.

Kilbee reached his century first but was happy to rotate the strike to allow Griffiths to play his natural game and whose ton was scored at better than a run a ball.

Both fell in quick succession but by then the damage was done. Will Barrett’s cameo of 30 not out at the end boosting Halesowen’s total to 295-6 from their allotted 50 overs.

The Tamworth reply had a more solid look about it, the focal point being a fine 133 scored by Jake Flower.

Coming to the crease after the fall of the first wicket Flower also scored at better than a run a ball and Tamworth looked in with a chance of victory as the game entered the final phase.

The wickets of Maddox (54) and overseas start van Deventer (9) were crucial as the Tamworth innings just ran out of steam at the death.

Adam Hawker's 2nd XI picked up a valuable win on the road in the reverse fixture at Tamworth and the maximum points gained sees them rise to second place in the league table behind Coventry.

Batting first they posted 225-9 largely thanks to a knock of 82 from Jujhar Johal.

The Tamworth opening pair had put on 77 for the first wicket and the Halesowen total was looking like it might not be enough but not for the first time this season Hawker's men stuck to their task admirably. All ten Tamworth wickets fell for just 58 runs with Shazad 5-33 and Johal 3-16 being the pick of the bowlers.

This Saturday the first XI travel to Penkridge (noon start) while the seconds are in action at home in the reverse fixture.