FOLLOWING their first win of the season, Ledbury Cricket Club first team returned to Orlham Lane to continue their winning form against Bartestree.
Captain Josh Evans won the toss in favourable overcast conditions and opted to bowl.
The opening bowling partnership of Vicky Evans and Jack Trattel showed excellent chemistry and consistency to restrict the Bartestree openers.
Batsman Nick Freeman held a solid anchoring roll, as Jack Tratell and first change David Nash, dented Bartestree hopes.
There were some solid catches taken in the outfield by Jamie Turner to put Ledbury in charge and Nash and Trattell both notched a wicket each.
Once more though, the bowling of Chaz Barber and all-rounder Tom Hill turned the screw with a wicket each, to leaving Bartestree on 165-5 with 10 overs remaining.
However, Bartestree captain Simon Davies accelerated the scoring well, supported by his lower order batsman and pushed the score past 200 before regular wickets began to fall from Jamie Turner’s bowling.
READ MORE: Ledbury get season back on track with strong away victory
Bartestree were ultimately restricted to a competitive score of 222 runs with Turner’s unorthodox leg spin being compensated with 3 wickets.
After the interval Ledbury got off to a flying start with opening batsmen Josh Evans and part-time wicket keeper Nick Gibbons setting up a superb 100 run partnership.
As Evans attempted to accelerate, he fell victim to the spin of Bartestree captain Simon Davies, and Gibbons fell shortly after reaching his fifty to another spinning delivery from Davies.
In-form batsmen Tom Hill, who bravely batted at 3 this week, held the faltering Ledbury innings together as batting partners at the other end began to come and go.
Hill was well supported by veteran batsman Rich Orders, but was ultimately dismissed chasing another personal half century milestone, with just 2 runs remaining to win.
Ledbury then attempted to clutch defeat from the jaws of victory in an end of innings wobble, as Chaz Barber ironically ran out the set Rich Orders. In the end it was left to the sensible cool head of Charles Tager, to lead Ledbury home to another excellent victory.
This win pushes Ledbury back into the top half of the table, and with some big games coming up in the next month, there is every opportunity to push into the top four.
This week Ledbury Cricket Club first team return to action in making a short trip to the high flying Woolhope, who currently sit top of the table.
Meanwhile Ledbury Cricket Club's second team will host a local derby at Orlham Lane against Eastnor.
Share