Pedmore make great strides

After winning the toss and electing to field, the Pedmore bowlers made it difficult for the Avoncroft batsmen to score, eventually restricting them to 148-9.

Pick of the bowlers were Darren Freeman (3-19) and Paul Lyman (pictured) (3-41).

After losing an early wicket Ian Chambers (53) and John Wenham (21) put Pedmore in control. The visitors were steered home thanks to captain Steve Lawson and Freeman who both scored 22 not out.

The captain said: "Everything is going well at the moment and the team is really starting to gel, which is helping to create a real buzz around the club."

Last Tuesday Pedmore beat Harborne in the League Knockout. Scoring 210-6 thanks to Ian Chambers 118 and Danny McDonnell 70, Harborne could only manage 114-7 off their overs. Pedmore will now meet Chaddesley at home in the next round on Tuesday.

This Saturday sees Pedmore travel down to Chaddesley in the league while the seconds will be at home.

Stourbridge.

Stourbridge kept their promotion hopes alive by beating Pershore at the Memorial Ground in Division One on Saturday.

Both sides struggled against the wind, demanding extra application from the players.

Winning the toss, Pershore put Stourbridge into bat.

Openers Richard Bradley (35) and Oli Hill (36) provided a solid start.

Sam Cheshire added 60 to the score through typical belligerent hitting.

Supported by Alex Biddle (58) the hosts reached 239 despite a late collapse.

Pershore's batting was sure but slow.

Keen to carve out a victory, skipper Keith Jones shrewdly rotated his pace attack ,each change producing results. An inspired moment came when he bought on Kalpesh Patel whose three quick wickets caused excitement for Stourbridge supporters. Hamssar Nadeem then cleaned up the stubborn tail in the penultimate over of the match.

With the abandoned matches over the Bank Holiday Monday Stourbridge remain the leaders.

The seconds came away from Feckenham with a winning draw.

Winning the toss Feckneham put Stourbridge into bat. A record opening partnership of 153 between Josh Banks and Dan Growcott in 35 overs was one of the highlights.

Banks went on to make 89 and Dan Growcott's 55 will mean the coming of an age of yet another young star.

Feckenham ended with 191 for 7 off the 50 overs. Stourbridge picked up 15 points keeping them well in contention for the top spot.

The thirds were also away but won easily against Barnt Green. Asked to get 139 Stourbridge Batsman Zaman Malik plundered 88 runs with eleven fours and two sixes.

The fourths lost in the final over to Barnt Green.

Stourbridge were in trouble at 25 for 3 after they were asked to bat first. Chris Norgrove and Pete Day rescued Stourbridge with a 50-run partnership. Young Norgrove ending up with his highest personal score of 79 not out. The equally young team of Barnt Green took the score to 168 off the last over earning their team 20 points.

Lye.

On a good batting track Lye seconds lost the toss and the home side batted first. Worcester got off to a flyer going at over six an over, however good accurate bowling from Ishtiaq and Dave Borley slowed the rate down with a final total from the 50 overs of 222 for 9. Lye started brightly but saw a middle order collapse and at one stage were 76 for 5.

Rob Chance and Ishtiaq batted solidly and a late run spree nearly reached their total finally ending with 207 for 9 . Worcester gained the winning draw with 16 points and Lye ended up with 10 points.

Lye are currently third in Division One table and are at home to Barnards Green for this Saturday's league fixture.

Amblecote and Wollaston.

Amblecote and Wollaston travelled away to Belbroughton on a blustery Saturday afternoon and went down by only nine runs in a thrilling encounter.

After winning the toss the visiting bowling attack blew away the hosts top order leaving them at 40 for 5.

However the momentum then changed with some hard middle order hitting and numerous dropped catches. This saw Belbroughton scrape to 155 and they were bowled all out on the last ball of the innings.

Shahed Zia and Rob Hamblett were the pick of the bowlers taking four wickets apiece.

The visitors started off well with the bat, opener Yassar Waseem making a well played 34. The A & W middle order showed some promise with Ross Parker scoring 26 and Carl Bingham 31. However wickets fell at the wrong times and they fell a disappointing nine runs short.

Captain Rob Hamblett said: "When we get a team 40 for 5 we should be going on to win the match.

"If we had held our catches we probably would have limited Belbroughton to 100.

"However we still should have knocked off 156 without any problems, we needed one or two of the players who got a start to go on and make 50 or 60 not out."

They will be looking to get back to winning ways at home to Bromsgrove on Saturday.

Hagley.

Hagley firsts went down at home to Belbroughton on Saturday. On a good pitch Hagley only posted 185-7 from their 50 overs thanks to 41 not out from Tom Jordan.

The victory target was achieved in the 39th over for Belbroughton.

On the same day the seconds were away at Pedmore, and in a very similar game to the firsts they batted first and could only manage 185-6 with Jason Goodwin scoring 52. Pedmore seconds eased to victory for the loss of just two wickets in the 32nd over.

On Monday, the firsts travelled to Enville and were asked to bat first with rain forecast. In a much better display with the bat thanks to Ian Watt (72) and Joe Lennon (63), Hagley scored 245-8 from their 50 overs. Due to rain at the tea break, Enville's reply was reduced to 25 overs with 123 required for the winning draw in Worcester League rules. Enville finished 93-6 from the 25 overs which meant Hagley gained the winning draw points thanks to tight bowling from Jack Baker (2-28) and Jez Trinham (3-25).

Captain Joe Lennon said: "It was a much better display on Monday than Saturday as we showed some fight at last with our batting.

" We can hopefully build on this and get some positive results over the next few games."

The seconds were also asked to bat on Monday and also produced a better batting display reaching 214-8 from their 50 overs with Dave Morgan scoring 57. However, heavy rain during the tea break meant the captains agreed to abandon the game.

Vice Captain Steve Plant reflected on the weekend games and said: "Saturday was very disappointing as we batted too slowly and didn't put enough runs on the board, but then we also bowled and fielded poorly.

"However, Monday was a better display with the bat but there is still more to come with players back for next weekend and hopefully better weather."

This Saturday the firsts entertain Harborne while the seconds travel to Oldswinford.

Enville.

Enville firsts picked up a comprehensive win at Birlingham on Saturday.

After losing the toss, the visitors were asked to field and the hosts looked to have made the right decision as they got off to a flying start, rattling up 70 in 17 overs for the loss of one wicket.

However, tight bowling from James Willis (2-30) and Jimmy Smith (2-42) and good fielding brought wickets with opener Mark Heathcock returning to clean up the tail.

In reply Enville suffered the early loss of Greg Tomkins but captain Jono Howells (46) and James Willis (54) kept up a good scoring rate before Rob Miller (34no) and Smith (44no) added 75 in seven overs to round off a comprehensive seven-wicket win with 16 overs to spare.

The second team, playing at Enville Hall, lost the toss and Birlingham decided to field. A steady flow of wickets throughout the innings due to both poor shots and impressive bowling ensured that Enville only reached 125.

The visitors made a sticky start and Matt Perry took 3 for 18 to give Enville some hope. But thanks to some good middle order partnerhships Birlingham managed to reach their target in the 37th over.

The third team took on Astwood Bank away and picked up an eight-wicket victory.

Winning the toss Enville chose to field and this decision was well received by the Enville bowlers as they proceded to bowl Astwood out for 149.

Alex Clift was the pick of the bowlers taking 4 for 36.

In reply the early loss of two wickets was soon forgotten as Dave Goring (40no) and Chris Bate (46no) saw Enville to an eight-wicket victory.

On Bank Holiday Monday at a wet and blustery Enville Hall, Hagley firsts batted first and achieved a more than respectable 245 for 8.

Adam Tranter (6-53) returned his best figures for Enville. Due to the weather Enville's target was reduced to 125 runs from 25 overs. After a steady start three quick wickets slowed the scoring rate. Eventually, thanks to Jimmy Smith (23) and a swift 24no from Paul Clarke, Enville secured a losing draw, reaching 93 for 6 at the close.

The second team fixture at Avoncroft was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Next week the first team play Cookley away on Saturday and travel to Hodnet and Peplow in the group semi-final of the National Village Knockout on Sunday. The second team look to bounce back against Cookley at home and the third team visit Harborne.