Cricket
Wardens slump

JAMES JORDAN grabbed a five wicket haul, but was powerless to prevent Kenilworth Wardens slumping to an 11 run Birmingham League Division One defeat at the hands of Shifnal.

The towering seamer exploited a damp pitch to superb effect, to finish with 5-17 from 14 immaculate overs, as the visitors were dismissed for 103.

On a rain-reduced afternoon, this left Wardens with 47 overs to chase a seemingly simple target.

However, their misfiring batting line-up collapsed from 60 for 3 to 92 all out, as Shifnal’s accurate four man seam attack seized control.

Five of the hosts’ top six made it to double figures, but none went beyond skipper Scott Stenning’s 19, thanks to a combination of poor shot selection and good bowling on a difficult surface.

Tom Friend finished with 4-23 and Jack Edwards claimed 3-10 as the hosts were shot out in only 26.3 overs.

Shifnal’s innings had followed a similar pattern, as opener Tom Collins’ 29, plus useful contributions from Friend (18) and Chris Miller (14) saw them to 73 for 3. However, this was before Jordan, who found seam movement from a full length, and Sitanshu Kotak, who claimed 3-14 from nine overs, choked the life from the visitors’ innings with some accurate bowling.

A five wicket haul for Tom Clack, followed by a fine half century from Jonathan Lewis, saw Barnards Green 2nds to a six wicket win over their Wardens’ counterparts.

In a rain-reduced 36 over contest, Tom Brammer’s fluent 47, plus useful contributions from skipper James Madley (23) and Brad Sanders (16) took the visitors to a competitive-looking 145 all out.

Clack grabbed 5-24 from 10.1 steady overs, while Lewis Hooper finished with 3-19, against a Wardens’ side with a lengthy tail.

Home skipper Judd Doughty (35) combined with Lewis (62) to add 88 for the second wicket, before Lewis Loader joined Hooper to see the Worcestershire outfit over the line, despite Brammer claiming 2-24.

Fine bowling spells from skipper Simon Gough, Jimmy Bull and Robin de Regt led Wardens 3rds to a third consecutive Cotswold Hills Division Three win over Ashorne.

Teenage seamer Bull was the pick of the attack, returning 2-16 from ten accurate overs, while de Regt and Gough’s thrifty spells only conceded 12 and 22 runs respectively.

Mark Reading (38) and Paul Hedges (23) added 68 for Ashorne’s third wicket, but it still required a late flurry from Phil Whitehead (20no) and Mark Freeman (25) to push the visitors to 145.

De Regt (17) and Rhys Doherty (19) saw Wardens’ response past 50, after which a 56-run third wicket alliance between Scott Jones (25) and Mike Sorrell (21no), plus an unbelievable 50 extras, ensured a five wicket win with nearly six overs in hand.

Harry Johnson’s excellent all-round efforts caught the eye as Wardens 4ths slipped to an eight wicket defeat against Tanworth and Camp Hill 3rds.

The 13-year old top-scored with a mature 32, in the visitors 118 for 7, before returning 1-17 from eight accurate overs, as T & CH cruised to victory.

Wardens’ skipper Neil Johnson (22) and Jamie Brown (25no) also chipped in effectively with the bat, against a steady home attack.

Opener Colin Jones (44no) and Shah (31no) guided the hosts to victory in the 39th over.

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