BROMSGROVE remain winless in six matches after the trio of Jamie Harrison, Harry Kitchen and James Rudge wreaked havoc at Seth Somers Park in Halesowen’s 61-run victory.
The Birmingham & District Premier Division Two leaders were emphatic at the crease in the reduced 49-overs affair, reaching 290 before being dismissed – a score which ultimately proved a step too far for the travelling Boars.
Opening with 77 runs, the one-sided partnership of Harrison (72) and Jamie Harris (4) provided a foundation for Halesowen that they initially failed to build on after slipping to 118-6.
Connor Smith (4-70) came into his own during this period, starring with four of the six wickets taken, with Gareth Williams (2-39) supplying the other dismissals.
But from there, the tie tipped drastically in the hosts’ favour with the emergence of prolific tailenders Kitchen (73) and Rudge (74).
The pair hit a quickfire 119 runs between them for the eighth wicket, with both eventually caught out by stand-in skipper Jayden Levitt after Smith and Richard Kimberlin (3-36) deliveries.
In reply, Bromsgrove’s Ashley Newfield (51, lbw) helped get the visitors up and running with partnerships of 50 and 54 with Levitt (29) and Alex Milton (39) respectively.
Ultimately, the lack of further big-hitting partnerships, or individual stands for that matter, meant the Boars looked susceptible of falling just short.
With Peter Scott (3-43), Kitchen (3-34) and Rudge (3-50) all proving difficult customers for the away side to deal with, Bromsgrove were seen off in the 45th over, despite George Marshall (34, no) offering some late resistance.
Tenth in the standings, a home encounter with Barnards Green, fourth, is next up on Saturday.
MARTYN Davies starred with a five-for to hand Burghill, Tillington and Weobley a crushing 143-run defeat, while keeping Droitwich Spa atop Worcestershire League Division One, last weekend.
The St Peter’s Playing Fields outfit saw Darryn Bancroft (67) and Jez Hanson (31) put on a match-best partnership of 72 runs to hurtle Spa towards the 200-run mark, following earlier contributions by skipper Max Young (51) and Jack Eaton (15) to open with 52.
Droitwich’s run chase was somewhat stunted by Oscar Darke (4-80) and Clive Chadhani (3-49), though the lack of firepower in BT&W’s reply was immediately evident.
It should have been no surprise then, when Davies swept up magnificently to claim Spa’s 12th win this campaign.
On Saturday, Droitwich go to tenth-placed Oldswinford & Stourbridge Social.
