ASTWOOD BANK moved out of the Birmingham League Division Three bottom four with a vital three-wicket victory at Shropshire outfit Worfield on Saturday.
Steve Adshead’s side are only above Worcester by virtue of number of wins but are now within touching distance of three sides above them in the table heading into Saturday’s home game against one of those teams, Whitchurch.
Worfield won the toss and chose to bat but only opener Patrick Butler with a fluent 83 established himself until Oliver Plank’s quickfire 34 in the middle order.
Overseas player Matt MacDonald (3-59) was the leading wicket-taker for the visitors, although Tom Harris with 2-41 off 13 overs was the most economical and there was also a brace of wickets for Dan Taylor.
An excellent partnership of 69 for the first wicket between MacDonald and Alex Robinson (33) got Bank’s reply off to a fine start although, once MacDonald (63) and Adshead (45 off 51) had been dismissed, the visitors still had work to do as they found themselves 192-7.
However, Andy Alexander (22no) and Jon Summers (12no) held their nerve to guide Bank to a gritty victory against a side containing former Redditch overseas man Gagandeep Singh, who scored an unbeaten 19 and took 1-36 off 14 overs.
ON SUNDAY (1pm) Bank host fellow Birmingham League Division Three outfit Pelsall in the Davidstow National Village Cup sixth round.
The Sambourne Lane side are just three wins away from reaching the final at Lord’s following their fifth round victory at Newtown Linford.
