Studley captain sets target for new season
NEW Studley skipper Tom Phelan admits that after a frustrating start to the campaign, the side’s aim is to improve on last season’s Warwickshire League Division Two finish.
But it looks as though they will have to do without wicket-keeper Chris Perrins who retired hurt while batting in Saturday’s defeat at home to Marston Green.
“It’s disappointing as it looks as though he will miss a few weeks with a calf injury,” Phelan said. “He will be missed but it gives an opportunity to one of the younger lads to step up.
“It has been a very frustrating start with a couple of games being abandoned after we were flooded over the winter and it has been a monumental effort from everyone at the club to get the cricket on.
“Our plan now is to improve on our position last year so that we can start pushing up the table and be looking at the top end rather than over our shoulders.”
Teenagers Ollie Harris and Kieron Ward top scored for Studley on Saturday and the captain insisted that this showed the club was heading in the right direction.
He added: " We lost a couple of players over the winter but that has created opportunities for some of the younger lads – two of whom have batted well today. Both are 18 and it means the future of the cricket club is bright with a good mix of youngsters and older players in the side.”
Against Marston Green, Studley lost by two wickets despite a superb spell of bowling from Andrew Rhodes who ripped through the visitors’ top order on his way to 5-33.
Charlie Bass (1-20) also claimed an early wicket and there was also success with the ball for Josh Gandy and skipper Tom Phelan but they were unable to stem the runs as the Birmingham side reached a match-winning 141/8 in the 43rd over.
Batting first, Studley had been indebted to a seventh wicket partnership between pace bowlers Ollie Harris (41) and Kieron Ward (31) who help their side reach 136 all out from 50 overs.
