BROMSGROVE skipper Mark Evenson is targeting 40 points this Bank Holiday weekend following the Boars’ much-needed 34-run victory over Birmingham League Division One basement club Sutton Coldfield.
In a game which was reduced to 47 overs due to rain, Evenson’s side were put into bat on a wet wicket after losing the toss before posting a score of 173 all out as Sutton’s Luke Jones produced a devastating spell of 7-32.
Ash Newfield top scored with 47 with middle order support coming from Yogesh Malhotra (34) while Jayden Levitt (21), Ben Tegg (16) and Alexei Kervezee (19) also reached double figures.
In reply, Sutton got off to a good start but the introduction of Evenson (3-31) and Graeme Whiles (3-42) pegged them back.
Sutton eventually ran out of steam as they were bowled out for 139 in the 44th over, gifting the Boars a priceless victory to ease their worries of facing relegation.
Evenson said: “It was very pleasing to get the 20 points as it’s never easy playing sides at the bottom of the table as they have the potential to be banana skins.
“Sutton Coldfield are fighting for their survival so it was a must-win for them but equally it was a big game for us too.
“To come away with the points was fantastic as it wasn’t the prettiest game of cricket and our score was a little below par.
“However, we bowled very well and as a unit, we have been bowling much better over the last four to five weeks.
“Hopefully this weekend we can collect 40 points as we love the win/lose format of cricket and I believe we will finish the season strongly.”
The Boars entertain seventh placed Bridgnorth on Saturday before taking on fellow relegation battlers Barnards Green on Bank Holiday Monday, both 12pm starts.
Ahead of the Bank Holiday fixtures, Worcestershire’s Kervezee is available for both games while Alistair Hickman (holiday) is missing.
Bromsgrove Seconds recorded a confident victory over Sutton at St Godwald’s Park in Division Two Second XI.
George Cracknell scored an unbeaten 115 and received great support from skipper Adam Jones (49) and Tom Green (69) as the Boars posted 303-2 off 41 overs.
Ben Johnson struck twice early on in Sutton’s innings before Matt Banham took figures of 4-8 to put the home side in the driving seat before bowling the visitors out for 182 to claim a 121-run victory.
The Thirds’ Worcestershire County League Division Four clash at Himley was abandoned before the start with both sides picking up five points.
Elsewhere, the Fourths continued their good run of form with an eight-wicket victory over Kempsey in Division Three Second XI.
Tom Smith was again involved heavily with bat and ball to inspire the Boars to victory.
