Stratford Seconds miss out on promotion despite big win
CRICKET
STRATFORD Seconds were denied promotion by a single point, despite ending the season with a thumping ten-wickets win against Worcester Nomads.
The Panthers’ seconds could do more than win their final fixture in the Birmingham League Second XI Division Two South with a dominant display at Swans Nest Lane.
They hustled out Nomads for 145 and then breezed to their target with a six to reach 151 without loss and take 20 points.
But, having started the day in third place in the table, they needed either Wombourne or Pershore to slip up but both their rivals took maximum point wins.
Wombourne sealed the title after an eight-wickets win against Streetley, having blasted out the visitors for 54, while Pershore were runners-up, one point ahead of Stratford, after a 203-run demolition of Nuneaton, who were skittled for 46.
Stratford Firsts enjoyed a winning finale to a roller-coaster season after a seven-wickets win at Worcester Nomads.
The hosts, having won the toss, batted first and were dismissed for 175 in the final over. Ollie Ranscombe was their top scorer with 55 while all five Stratford bowlers took wickets. Adrain Witts and(3-41) and Anthony Pratley (3-42) led the way with three wickets apiece,and spinner James Urquhart took 2-31 and Sam Douthwaite and Mike Brown a wicket apiece.
Stratford had the perfect platform in their run chase with an opening stand of 123 between Chris Whelan and Adam Bayliss.
Bayliss fell first for 55 off 93 balls and Whelan soon followed for 69 off 101 balls with the score on 135.
Rob West departed for 19 with the score on 174 but David Bailey fittingly saw the Panthers home with a rapid 29 not out off 19 balls.
SCOREBOARD
Worcester Nomads
Guy Davies ct Christopher Whelan b Mike Brown 1
Trevor Keen ct Adrian Witts b Anthony Pratley 36
David White ct Gareth Langman b Sam Douthwaite 16
Ollie Ranscombe† ct Rob West b James Urquhart 55
Nickolas Jones b Anthony Pratley 0
Richard Henry lbw b Adrian Witts 1
Derek Austin ct James Urquhart b Anthony Pratley 1
Ben Schiffmann* ct David Bailey b James Urquhart 26
Ollie Price ct Rob West b Adrian Witts 7
Tom Baker not out 5
Cameron Blakey b Adrian Witts 11
Extras b (1), lb (2), w (13) 16
Total 175 all out (49.1 overs)
Bowling
Mike Brown 10 1 41 1
Sam Douthwaite 10 3 17 1
James Urquhart 10 0 31 2
Adrian Witts 9.1 1 41 3
Anthony Pratley 10 1 42 3
Stratford-upon-Avon
Christopher Whelan ct Ollie Ranscombe b Cameron Blakey 69
Adam Bayliss lbw b Cameron Blakey 55
Rob West ct David White b Cameron Blakey 19
David Bailey not out 29
John Price not out 0
Gareth Langman† did not bat
Mike Brown* did not bat
Adrian Witts did not bat
Sam Douthwaite did not bat
James Urquhart did not bat
Anthony Pratley did not bat
Extras b (1), lb (3), w (2) 6
Total 178-3 (41.2 overs)
Bowling
Nickolas Jones 6 1 24 0
Ben Schiffmann 10 3 17 0
Tom Baker 7 0 44 0
Trevor Keen 10 0 47 0
Cameron Blakey 8 1 38 3
Guy Davies 0.2 0 4 0
