Worcestershire County League round up

A lot more cricket was played than expected on Saturday as the initial weather forecast looked ominous but failed in the end to show its true colours as nearly all of the matches in the top divisions reached a natural conclusion.

There was little change at the top of the Premier Division as the top five teams all recorded victories. Maverick Perry (57) struck a first innings half century for leaders Stourbridge in their thirty-four run win against Worcester (for who Nick Brown compiled a second innings 67). Second placed Stourport-on-Severn had Ted Bayliss (62*) to thank as his undefeated second innings half century helped his team to a tight two wicket win after a shaky start chasing down Redditch’s first innings total. Old Elizabethans remain in third place after Taylor Pugh (5-14) helped make light work of bottom side Bewdley. Rob Willis (81*) and Ian Bullock (57) steered fourth placed Bromyard to a comfortable eight wicket win against Old Hill and M Green (7-32) destroyed Astwood Bank in the first innings to ensure Pershores second innings chase was a comfortable one.

The other match in the division between Brockhampton and Colwall was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Jake Young’s (4-17) first innings return helped Droitwich Spa retain their position at the top of Division One as they beat visiting Belbroughton by seven wickets at St. Peter’s Field. Muhammad Saqib (134*) posted an excellent undefeated first innings century in a comprehensive win against Burghill, Tillington & Weobley to ensure Feckenham kept up with the pace and stayed just six points behind the leaders. Third placed Worcester Nomads match with Pedmore was a cancellation due to Covid-19 meaning they lost a little ground on the top two but gained on fourth placed Ombersley 2nd XI who lost their second game in a row to Lye at home.

In other matches, Chaddesley Corbett beat Oldswinford and Stourbridge Social in a rain reduced affair to move in to fifth place and Adil Jiva Ibrahim (93) headed another excellent batting performance for Coombs Wood who beat Hagley by a wide margin to continue their climb up the table.

In Division Two the matches between Astwood Bank 2nd XI and Netherton and Barnards Green 2nd XI and Enville were cancelled due to Covid-19 isolation and the match between Cookley and Bromsgrove 2nd XI was abandoned.

In the remaining matches played leaders Barnt Green 2nd XI won what looked to be an excellent match at Himley as second innings half centuries from Harrison Moncrieffe (67), Fergus Roll (56) and C Jones (55*) helped them chase down the home teams challenging first innings total, This win gives them a twenty two point lead at the top of the table over Cookley who are second with Kidderminster 2nd XI a further point back in third position after being beaten by visiting Halesowen 2nd XI at Chester Road for whom Luke Tulacz (129) compiled an excellent first innings century to help set up the win.

In the other match in the division Jon Critchlow (98) continued in his rich vein of form to help Himbleton beat Bredon and move further away from the bottom two.

In Division Three Mark James (160) helped leaders Alvechurch & Hopwood back to winning ways as his excellent first innings century helped post far too many for visiting Old Elizabethans 2nd XI to chase in the second innings. This win kept them just one point clear of Harborne 3rd XI at the top as Rob Powell (72), Alex Larkins (57*), Baldev Raj (55) and Arpit Bhargava (53) all contributed first innings half centuries to set up victory against fourth Martley at the Knotts Ground. A further eight points behind in third sit Bartestree & Lugwardine for whom Ryan Trattell (95 & 4-36) enjoyed his day out as his excellent all-round performance helped seal the win against Old Hill 2nd XI at Haden Hill.

Elsewhere, Old Vigornians beat Redditch 2nd XI comfortably to move in to fifth place, Avoncroft beat Brockhampton 2nd XI to move closer to mid division and Rushwick won the battle of the bottom two when they beat Worcester 2nd XI by four wickets at Norton Barracks.

Netherton 2nd XI pulled twenty-eight points clear at the top of the Division Four table after Basim Ishaq (102*) and Taimur Ali (68) helped them compile a big first innings total that proved too many for visiting Coombs Wood to chase in the top of the table clash at Highbridge Road.

Stourbridge 2nd XI took advantage of this result to move in to second place as Harshad Patel (120) rolled back the years to compile an excellent first innings century to help set up the win against Lye 2nd XI.

In other matches in the division, Five Ways Old Edwardians beat Bewdley 2nd XI by five wickets to stay forth, Chaddesley Corbett 2nd XI chased down Pershore 2nd XIs challenging first innings total to grab the win and a move up the table to fifth, the match between Eastnor and Bromsgrove 3rd XI was abandoned which left Eastnor in mid division and finally Stourport-on-Severn 2nd XI just got over the line against Romsley & Hunnington to steal a win that moved them further away from the relegation zone.