Top four target is still the aim for Stratford
STRATFORD’S head of coaching is confident that the Swans Nest Lane side is still on target for at least a top four finish in the Warwickshire League Premier Division.
Josh Hickman was speaking after Saturday’s losing draw with Walmley and ahead of this weekend’s trip to league strugglers Rugby which marks the halfway point to the season.
He said: “Our aim at the start was to finish in the top four but I don’t see why we can’t push beyond that. It is all about stringing results together - there is still a lot of cricket to play.
“Rugby might not have had the best of starts but they do have some very good players and have been a similar team for a long time. They beat us twice last season so hopefully we can go and get a result. It is very tight in the league - we are only 21 points off second which is a win so hopefully we can get that result.”
Against Walmley, Stratford were set a challenging target by the visitors and after a positive start, found themselves behind the run rate after losing wickets midway through their innings.
Batting first, Walmley scored at a decent rate with opener Sachin Dubb scoring at more than a run-a-ball on his way to 57 before being caught off the bowling of James Urquhart who also clean bowled fellow dangerman Sarmad Bhatti for 36.
At that point, the Birmingham outfit looked to be wobbling on 149/6 but Jamie Hall (54) and Robert Hutchings (39no) then put on a 100-run partnership for the seventh wicket to help their side to 256/7.
Urquhart was the pick of the bowlers with 2-26 from his 12 overs and there were also wickets for Cameron Stiles, Archie Walker and Josh Colwell.
A solid opening partnership from Hickman (34) and Gareth Langman (29) guided Stratford to 59/1 but runs proved hard to come by after that against some excellent bowling with Lewis Hoffman (3-15 off nine) the pick of the Walmley attack.
Nick Blacker reached 20 before being another of Hoffman’s victims and although late runs from Walker (29no) and Urquhart (22) raised the tempo, it became apparent that a losing draw was the best that Stratford could hope for.
Hickman added: “They (Walmley) attacked really hard and we did well to pin them back but then they had a good partnership in the last ten overs and they took it away from us again. We felt they got maybe 20 or 30 runs more than they should have done.
“We then had a good start in the run chase but lost a few wickets and were never quite able to catch up and we had to see it out for a draw in the end. There is a period when you ask whether you are still going to go for the result or whether you manage risk a little. Last season that was probably a game we would have lost so to hold on and bat through is a positive that we can take forward.
“Walmley are certainly a top four team. On paper there’s not a lot between us but they were better on the day.
“We have players unavailable at the moment and while that’s a challenge and will also be the case against Rugby on Saturday, it means there’s opportunity for other lads to step up which is a great opportunity for us and the development of players.”