Skipper’s frustration with winning draw
STAND-IN Stratford skipper Archie Walker admitted that he felt frustrated having to settle for a winning draw against Saturday’s Warwickshire League Premier Division visitors Bedworth.
After opting to bat first, Stratford posted 260/9 before declaring after 46 overs to give themselves a better chance to skittling out their opponents. Nathan Edwards led the way with 96, Neel Ammanath scored 67 and the pair put on 94 for the fourth wicket.
But Bedworth survived their 54 overs and scored 203/7 at the end of a game which Walker admits swung one way and then the other.
“While it was good to get a winning draw, ultimately it was a frustrating afternoon and it felt like a defeat in the end,” he explained.
“We showed our quality with both the bat and the ball. Nathan was unlucky not to get his hundred and Neel continued his good form as a standout player for us this season. Chris Calcott then came in at the end to help push us to our target, giving us a chance to bowl them out with the extra overs.”
Walker added that there was little in the wicket for the seam bowlers and it needed the wickets to come from the spinners.
He said: “Sean Hopwood bowled fantastically well and continues to go from strength to strength. It became clear that they were playing for a draw so we started setting some funky fields to try something different. Then, all of a sudden after drinks, they needed 140 runs off 20 overs so we needed to change our game plan again because the outcome was in the balance.”
With regular skipper James Urquart away, Walker turned to his secret weapon – and Edwards duly delivered, taking two wickets.
Stratford head to Hampton and Solihull on Saturday as the league return to the win/lose white ball game.
