Late collapse results in Exhall’s cup exit
Exhall & Wixford’s run in the National Village Cup ended at the first hurdle after they were edged out by hosts Filllongley on Sunday, reports David Lawrence
Victory looked to be within their grasp but a late batting collapse saw them skittled out nine runs short of their target.
Fillongley won the toss, opted to bat first and duly posted 62 for the first wicket. But with opener Taylor Gilder (34) back in the pavilion, the Exhall bowlers then threatened to take control, reducing their hosts to 80-5. Robert Perry (3-16) and Richard Layton (2-16) were the star turns, bowling eight overs apiece.
A useful 34 from Harry Tregonning that included two 6s kept the score ticking over before further wickets fell as Fillongley were all out for 166 in the 39th over. William Green and Julian Morris took two wickets each and there was one for Nick Dillam.
In reply, Morris was trpped lbw without scoring and he was followed by Craig Atherton shortly afterward. Skipper Sam Smith (51) and Perry (44) steadied the innings and when the latter was bowled, Exhall were on 131-6 with overs in hand.
But of the remaining batsmen, only Nick Dillam (20) offered any resistance and the visitors were all out for 157, losing their last four wickets for just six runs. Tregonning was the pick of the Fillongley bowers, taking 5-23.
Smith admitted that while their opponents had done well to get the game on, runs had proved hard to come by.
He said: “We were pretty happy with the total at the halfway stage but, looking back at it, we probably bowled a few too many extras and we dropped a couple of chances early in their innings. If we’d have taken those, we would have been chasing 20 or even 30 less which would have been a much more achievable target as the outfield was pretty slow.
“We were a bit rusty because it was the first proper match we’d played so we were in need of a runout. The run rate was achievable but we lost a flurry of wickets in quick succession and couldn’t quite get over the line.”
Exhall & Wixford are former winners of the competition but have struggled to get out of the group stage in recent years and this season they switched back to Warwickshire opponents.
Smith explained: “We have met some strong teams in recent years when we were part of the Worcestershire group – Astwood Bank made it to the semi-finals on a number of occasions and Dumbleton won it last year – so getting out of that group was tough.”
After rain wiped out the opening round of fixtures in the Cotswold Hills Premier Division, the Exhall skipper is hoping for better weather so that their game at home to reigning champions Wellesbourne can go ahead on Saturday.
Elsewhere in the National Village Cup. Tanworth & Camp Hill lost their match with Water Orton by 119 runs, being skittled out for just 73. And the north Warwickshire side will now host Temple Grafton who were given a walkover against Bulkington. That tie will take place on Sunday, 21st May – weather permitting.