Stratford win on a day blighted by bad weather

RAIN wiped out much of the cricket over the weekend including the entire Premier Division of the Cotswold Hills League including the top of the table clash between leaders Tanworth and Camp Hill and their nearest challengers Kineton.

But there was play at Swans Nest Lane where Stratford beat Sutton Coldfield by 121 runs to climb into the top half of the table.

Opener Josh Hickman and Matt Warren put on the bulk of the runs with the former posting 66 off 114 balls while Warren’s unbeaten 85 came off 80 balls as the hosts declared on 202/5 in the 43rd over. Their third-wicket partnership was worth 87 runs.

In response, Sutton struggled from the off with Tom Grundy (2-11) claiming two early wickets as the visitors slumped to 5/2. Also impressing with the ball were Josh Colwell (2-3), Archie Walker (2-19) and Sean Hopwood (1-23) while Gareth Langman led the way with 3-20 as the Birmingham opponents were al out for just 81.

There was also action in Division Two where Studley suffered an eight-wicket defeat at home to Barby. Jack Williams top scored for the hosts with 27 as his side reached 126/7 – a total reached by the visitors for the loss of two wickets.

In the Cotswold Hills League, Welford climbed into the top two of Division Four after a 52-run victory over Elmley Castle 2nds. Opener Darren Hutchins scored 53 and there was good support from Charlie Tyler (50) and Mark Weston (36) as the hosts made 184 before Weston took 4-24 as the Synder Meadow visitors fell short of a revised target.

Sam Eckersley took 3-7 and there were also wickets for Will Gough and Raghavendra Raj with Neil Cooper (59) the only batsman to offer any opposition.

In Division Three, Henley suffered a nine-wicket defeat at Kineton 2nds despite Marc Passey hitting 65 while Claverdon lost by nine runs at Alcester and Ragley 2nds with Sunil Kumar (67) and Prithvi Ravikumar (54) among the runs for the visitors.

Stratford 3rds closed to within 11 points of Division Two leaders FISSC thanks to their 84-run victory at Great Alne where they were helped by knocks of 95 from Josh Pike and an unbeaten 57 from Oscar Raisbeck. Joe Walters was the pick of the Great Alne bowlers with 3-40 and he then top scored with 37.