JOE Midgley took five wickets as Leamington smashed their way to an 86-run victory over Bridgnorth to go top of Birmingham & District Premier Division Two.
In a match reduced to 30 overs per side, Leamington were the winners of the toss and stepped up to the crease first.
Although Harrison Smith (2) was gone at 4-1, Waqar Ahmed (21) and Jonathan Wigley (55) hit 36 between them before the former was caught by Sam Whitney from Charlie Morris’ delivery.
Sulaiman Hussain (39) was dismissed as the third wicket, after putting on 59 with Wigley, before William Mashinge (5) was caught and bowled by Sam Baugh.
Wigley was next to go at 137-5, while Craig Miles (8) was stumped by Simon Gregory from the final ball to finish Spa on 168-5.
Opener Ian Gregory (1) was gone for an lbw from the second ball that he faced, bowled by Midgley – who took the first of five wickets for 39 runs.
Jean-Pierre Erasmus (15) went at 27-2, followed by Simon Gregory for an lbw at 29-3, with Charlie Morris being Midgley’s fourth successive victim at 42-4.
David Exall (16) was caught by Chris Calcott from Craig Miles’ delivery to put a momentary end to Midgley’s run.
But service was quickly resumed when Sam Whitney (1) was caught by Ahmed from Midgley’s delivery to leave Bridgnorth staring down the barrel at 43-6.
Moments later, Adam Quiney (6) and Thomas Weaver (5) were caught by Perry Derrick and Smith respectively, both from Miles’ deliveries, to hand him his hat-trick.
Joseph Smallman (18) offered some late runs, but his dismissal from Calcott’s catch, delivered by Mashinge, and Mark Macpherson-Lees’ lbw, bowled by Davison, finished Bridgnorth on a mere 85.
The result sends Leamington top of the division by four points, after Wolverhampton’s fixture with Himley was abandoned.
Spa next visit Halesowen on Saturday (noon).
