REDDITCH Entaco face a testing game at third placed Droitwich on Saturday but they will head into the Worcestershire League Division One match buoyed by a thrilling 12-run home victory over Oldswinford which lifted the Kingfishers out of the drop zone.
Opener Jack Roberson made a fine 89 as Redditch posted 261-7 off 50 overs – their highest score of the season.
Perry Derrick continued his good form with the bat with 51 and Russell Southwick chipped in with 37.
In reply Oldswinford started positively despite losing early wickets but Redditch were frustrated by the exploits of Lee Nightingale who single-handedly took on the Redditch attack.
Nightingale was brilliantly caught out in the deep by Southwick for 89 and the Oldswinford attack fell away as they were eventually dismissed for 249 off 49.2 overs.
Waqas Ali took 2-54, Ghulam Moyhuddin 3-32 and Tom Phelan 2-35.
Redditch can welcome Greg Chinn back to the ranks this weekend, although the influential Derrick is away.
Successive wins have propelled the 2nds up to fourth place in Division One 2nd XI but they face a stern test on Saturday as league leaders Stourport are the visitors to Bromsgrove Road.
Hosts Rushwick were the victims by seven wickets on Saturday. Rushwick posted 238-7 off 50 overs with Tom Kitching taking 3-43.
In reply Redditch’s batting was too strong for the bottom of the table side as Nick Fowkes and Dan Protherough both scored 68 as Redditch finished on 242-3 in the 47th over.
Both the 3rds and 4ths suffered defeats at the hands of Stourbridge. In Division Five the thirds could only muster 144 with James Caine contributing 49 of them as the mainstay.
In reply Stourbridge reached their target for the loss of just four wickets, all of which were snapped up by Ben Hicklin who claimed season’s-best figures of 4-21 off ten overs.
In Division Five 2nd XI the 4ths struggled with their batting and could only make 117 as teenagers Adam Sharp (30) and a cameo 22 not out from Jacob Otley proved the main contributions.
Stourbridge needed just 18.1 overs to take the points as they won by seven wickets.
On Saturday Stourport travel to Entaco for the 3rds match and the 4ths head in the opposite direction.
