Bowlers steer Kineton closer to league crown

EXCELLENT bowling fired Kineton to within touching distance of the Cotswold Hills League Premier Division title as they stormed to a 119-run victory over Exhall and Wixford.

Batting first, the league leaders scored 183/9 from their 45 overs with Sam Cooper top scoring with 35. Others among the runs included James Cooper (29), Isaac Rowles (26) and Jordan Dunant (22).

The Exhall bowlers shared the wickets around with two apiece for Will Green (2-28), Rob Perry (2-31), Richard Layton (2-35) and Tom Burgess (2-52) while Tom Richardson took 1-31.

The hosts were in trouble from the off as they took to the crease with Perry the only player to make double figures – his 41 coming off 55 balls – as they were skittled out by a disappointing 64.

James Cooper took 3-17 and he shared top billing with Dunant who claimed 3-8 off 2.3 overs. Adam Lane took 2-9 off his five overs and skipper Tom Durnian claimed the others (2-27).

That results took Kineton nine points clear of Tanworth and Camp Hill who won at relegated Norton Lindsey and Wolverton by 85 runs.

Opener Lee Gill gave the visitors the perfect start with his 74-run knock and there were useful additions from Martin Perfect (30) and skipper Andy Turnbull who was unbeaten on 37 as his side made 218/7. The pick of the bowlers was Richard Blythe who took 3-33 in ten overs.

Norton Lindsey’s response began well enough with both openers among the runs. Gavin Shephard hit 36 and Dan Fell 37 but both were clean bowled by Joseph Kelso who finished with excellent figures of 4-19 off ten overs.

Matthew Edwards added a useful 21 but the run chase soon faltered and the home side were dismissed for 133 with Tim Keyte, Oscar Newell, Seth Jordan and Josh Wigginton all picking up the wickets, the latter taking 1-13 in seven overs.

Elsewhere in the top division, Alcester and Ragley’s heavy 147-run defeat at Leek Wootton keeps them deep in relegation trouble.

Ed Taylor took 2-34 and there was a decent spell from Stephen Capron as he claimed 1-28 from his ten overs but the home side still reached 247/7.

Shipston are still not out of trouble as they lost by ten wickets at an in-form Wellesbourne side.

The visitors were restricted to 155 with Tommy Wheeler’s 3-38 the pick of the bowling that saw the wickets shared around six different bowlers.

In reply, Wellesbourne cruised home with Wheeler unbeaten on 48 while overseas all-rounder Pieter van der Kooij thumped an unbeaten 92 off 68 balls including four 6s.

Across the other divisions, there was some impressive bowling on display, particularly in Division Two.

FISSC’s Louis Glover was again among the wickets, taking 5-14 as Wellesbourne 2nds were skittled out for just 45 on their way to a seven-wicket defeat.

But those figures were surpassed by Bidford’s Luke Lowerson who took 5-13 as his side cruised to a 129-run victory at home to Woodbourne.