After watching Ali Zaryab make a match-winning 122 when the clubs last met in May, Himley suffered at the hands of Kenilworth Wardens Pakistani pro for a second time on Saturday.

If Zaryab's dismissal for a first ball duck initially balanced the scales, when the hosts then progressed to 78 for three in pursuit of their visitors' meagre 128 all out the odds were stacked in the Black Country side's favour.

But Wardens' Central Punjab star had other ideas – and he proceeded to dismantle Himley's batting with an outstanding spell of off-spin which returned 5-30 from ten overs.

As a result the home side, who lost seven wickets for 39, crashed to 117 all out and in the process slipped to an 11-run defeat.

Captain Harry Johnson was quick to pay tribute to his club's 22-year-old international import who has recently overcome a broken finger.

"It was great to have Ali back bowling following his injury," he said.

"It didn't take long for him to get back into rhythm and was a handful on a pitch offering turn and bounce. He's an experienced cricketer and sets good fields making it very difficult for batters to score."

After winning the toss Wardens were soon under pressure at 42 for four against a home attack in which Saul Anstey claimed the prize scalps of Zaryab and Johnson.

Opener Keith Bell stood firm for a 93-ball 51, but once he was seventh out with the score at 95 only Tommy Rex's battling unbeaten 56-ball 22 delayed the home side's charge.

Anstey, who returned to mop up the tail, finished with the outstanding figures of 6-46 from 15.4 accurate overs while Hasitha De Silva grabbed 2-35.

This left Himley with 65 overs in which to chase their 128-run target and although both openers fell with the score at 28 with all of their top six reaching double figures a home win always seemed likely.

However, with Rex claiming three early scalps, none were able to go beyond Callum Lea's 28 and once Zaryab was introduced into the attack a collapse ensued.

With the assistance of Nick Seagar, who claimed four outfield catches, Wardens' pro ripped through the home side's lower order to such an extent that the last five wickets added only 14 runs.

Rex finished with 4-24 from 10.4 hostile overs as Wardens claimed a maximum 24-point return which ended their recent losing run and catapulted them back into promotion contention.

"Our total was 50 or 60 runs short on that wicket," Johnson added.

"Keith scored a superb fifty to help hold our innings together when wickets were falling around him and that was what allowed us to post something competitive.

"Tommy has been brilliant all season taking plenty of wickets with the new and old ball.

"He's been equally valuable with the bat scoring plenty of valuable runs down the order. His 25-run partnership with Ben Fitzgerald was crucial in the context of a low-scoring game."