A Birmingham Premier League career best from Amun Bal failed to prevent Kenilworth Wardens slipping to a four-wicket Division Two home defeat at the hands of Dorridge.

The medium-pacer claimed 4-43 from 12 tidy overs as the home side battled to defend their inadequate 126 all out.

However, led by skipper Ben Shepparson's best-of-the-day 39 the visitors cruised past their target in only 30.4 overs.

Veteran Aussie pro David Ball had earlier caused Wardens plenty of problems on a pitch which had been covered for the majority of the previous 36 hours.

He claimed 4-34 from 17 overs while new ball partner Roshan Venkataraman and Jack Mills also claimed three wickets apiece as the hosts struggled to combat the seaming ball.

After losing the toss, home opener Keith Bell battled his way to a 92-ball 33 while Ball and Venkataraman (3-31) worked their way through his top-order colleagues.

After Bell was eventually the sixth man out, Andy Leering (24) and Tommy Rex (23no) then fought hard in the company of the lower order.

But with Mills claiming 3-25 this only delayed the inevitable as Wardens were bowled out in 45 of their scheduled 55 overs for 126.

Although Bal claimed two early wickets, Luke James struck six boundaries in a breezy 26 to ensure Dorridge made early inroads to their target.

And when wicket-keeper Grant Harrison joined Shepparson – whose 58-ball 39 contained five boundaries – in a 45-run fourth-wicket partnership, the visitors had the finish line in their sights.

With six rounds of action remaining Harry Johnson's team lie fourth in the table behind clear leaders Halesowen, Himley and Barnards Green.