Colwall maintain their title pursuit (From Ledbury Reporter)

Colwall maintain their title pursuit

8:50am Saturday 3rd September 2011 in Cricket

Netherton 227 all out, Colwall 230-3.

COLWALL kept up the pressure on leaders Coombs Wood with a 24-point victory at Netherton in Worcestershire League Division Two.

Netherton scored 227 all out from their 50 overs with Dave Brassett, in for Alex Frick who returned to Australia, the hero with 6-76. It took 36 overs for Colwall to grab a seven-wicket win, finishing on 230-3 with Tom Coleman hitting 100 not out and in-form Rory Jones 60no.

With only a point separating the top two teams, it will go down to the wire as there are only two games left. Colwall host Monmouth and local rivals Malvern, while Wood head to Feckenham and then entertain Monmouth. Hagley look like they will stay third, being 30 points behind Colwall with tough matches against Worcester Dominies and Belbroughton ahead of them. The top three will be promoted as no Birmingham League clubs are heading back to the county competition.

n A winning draw with Feckenham took Colwall to second place in Worcestershire League Division Two.

On a rainy day at Stowe Lane, Feckenham decided to insert the home team on a wicket which favoured the bowler.

Ravaged by unavailability due to holidays and the wedding of bowler Mike King, an inexperienced Colwall team was selected.

However, the aggressive and consistent Coleman soon put the away bowlers to the sword with a swashbuckling innings of 67.

He was well-supported by Odge Davey as they put on 61 for the first wicket when Davey fell to Stacey.

The run harvest continued when big hitter Ben Wheeler (33) came to the wicket. He soon doubled the score before Coleman was bowled by Feckenham’s best bowler Daniel Bloomer who went on to take four wickets.

Sam Crichard played a cameo innings of 15 before quickly maturing 18-year-old batsman Rory Jones played a sensible innings of 63 to push the score beyond 200.

Then the run-chase became frantic and wickets fell at regular intervals with Colwall dismissed in 41 overs for 232.

This was always going to be a big challenge for the visitors and Damien Berry (4-47) and new boy James Nightingale (3-26) ripped out the early order.

However, a resilient innings of 57 from Nick Reddish held the reply together and despite two wickets for Coleman, the visitors’ last two batsmen stood firm.

Colwall seconds (201-9) suffered a 10-wicket defeat to Pedmore in Worcestershire League Division One (Second XI).

Openers Mike Jarrett (101 not out) and Kevin Trusswell (63no) guided Pedmore to victory. Droitwich Spa beat Colwall by three wickets.