LEAMINGTON enjoyed a winning start to the Birmingham & District Premier Division Two season with a six-wicket victory against Wolverhampton.
The hosts won the toss and opted to field, which worked in their favour as Leamington opened the game with a stream of early wickets, with Chris Calcott taking a couple of catches behind the stumps to leave Wolverhampton on 23-2.
However, the visitors struck back through the impressive partnership of Amritpal Singh and Jack Stanley, who sent the ball to the boundary on ten occasions.
Singh was eventually caught out by Perry Derrick with his side on 84, followed by three quickfire wickets – with two for returning bowler Will Mashinge – leaving Wolverhampton on 106-6.
Stanley alongside seventh batsman Aaron Patel added 53 runs between them to make the scoreline look a little more respectable, before Stanley was eventually dismissed LBW.
Patel was bowled out by Oliver Currill before Adam Finch and Zayn Hussain were taken out for the last two wickets by Derrick – leaving Leamington with a target of 200.
Spa were ten runs into their innings when Luke De Souza fell LBW, before Waqar Ahmed was bowled by Aneesh Kapil with Leamington on 33-2.
Harrison Smith alongside Jonathan Wigley struck up a successful partnership to keep Leamington on track to meet their target, with Wigley (28) caught by Adam Finch with Leamington on 123.
Top-scorer Smith (74) was next to go, bowled by Hussain with Spa 48 runs from winning the game.
That proved to be the last dismissal for the hosts though, as Mashinge – who hit three sixes – and Ollie Currill struck 37 and 21 respectively to win by six wickets on 204-4 from 46.2 overs.
Leamington now head to an Ombersley side who lost their opening game to Oswestry.
Elsewhere, Leamington’s second string travelled to Earlswood to open their Warwickshire League Division Two campaign, winning the toss and opting to field first.
Opening bowler Tom Warner took 3-11 before the hosts hit back with Joe Pietrafesa (48) and Aaron Snipe (25) impressing.
They were unable to register a significant total, and finished with 145-9 after 50 overs, leaving Spa with an attainable target to aim for.
Leamington stumbled in similar fashion to the hosts in having their top trio Tom Warner, Joseph Somra and Nick Couzens dismissed cheaply, but Ibi Afzal (38) and Jack Hawkes (31) helped ease the pressure for Spa.
Jason Butler (15) and James Treasure (12) proved the conclusive partnership as they took Leamington to a 148-7 scoreline with just three overs remaining.
They host Corley on Saturday (12.30pm).
