BROMSGROVE look to build momentum with a victory against Wolverhampton on Saturday (12pm), following a two-wicket win away to Tamworth in Birmingham & District Division Two.
Having won the toss and electing the hosts to bat first, it was a move which looked wise given the couple of early wickets that were claimed by Gareth Williams and Alex Wilkinson, leaving Tamworth on 17-2.
Opener and Tamworth top-scorer Jacob Flower (28) built some momentum prior to his dismissal at 49-3, when being caught out by Mark Evenson.
The hosts struggled along and lost wickets at regular intervals, with Stuart Burrows (20) being run out by Ryan Pedley, followed by Jason Jakeman (12) being bowled out by Ashley Newfield and Scott Daly’s (3) dismissal for an lbw by Tom Russell.
Josh Rudge (9) was next to go, being the first of a late masterclass from Mark Evanson – who claimed four wickets and conceded just 17 runs.
Ben Maddox (24, not out) and Josh Bowker (17) built a 29-run partnership, prior to the latter being caught by Wilkinson.
The eighth wicket signalled Tamworth’s downfall, as they only went on to claim 12 further runs through the final batsmen of Daniel Bowker (0) and Edward Smith (4) in tow with Maddox, leaving Bromsgrove a target of 147.
Bromsgrove made a steady, but unconvincing start, when losing the first wicket at 23-1, when opener Jayden Levitt (15) was caught by David Fisher.
Mike Hingley (2) and Newfield (4) went soon after, leaving the visitors on 27-3.
But an unbeaten 54 from fourth batsmen Alex Milton, in which he struck up a 90-run partnership with Pedley (37) – who went for an lbw at 117-4.
Deon Patel (7), Tom Hill (2), Evenson (0) and Wilkinson (5) were next to go, but Bromsgrove got themselves over the line in the 46th over.
Over in Worcestershire League Division Two, Bromsgrove’s second XI fell to a straightforward six-wicket loss at Lye.
After the hosts won the toss and elected Bromsgrove to bat first, the visitors set a total of 186-7 from their 50 overs, but knew they would have to make up the hard yards in the second innings.
Adam Jones hit an unbeaten 62, whilst Lewis Cordes (25), Alistair Hickman (21) and Greg Chin (20) all hit notable totals, with Waqas Ahmed the pick of the Lye bowler – taking 2-36.
Tofiq Anwar (64) and Nadeem Hussain (41) were in imperious form, whilst Ahmed (33) remained unbeaten as he guided Lye to victory in the 34th over.
Bromsgrove’s third string won by six wickets against Bewdley’s seconds, beating the visitor’s 170-7 total.
James Rawlings and Matt Cowdery (not out) both hit 35, with the latter also taking 3-53 during the visitor’s innings.
