REDDITCH enjoyed some welcome respite from their league struggles as they left themselves on the verge of qualifying for the final of the East Worcestershire T20 Cricket League thanks to a seven-wicket victory at Droitwich on Wednesday.
The Kingfishers know victory in their final group game at Barnt Green on July 2 will be enough to clinch a place in the final at Bromsgrove on July 10, although favourable results elsewhere could yet mean Perry Derrick’s side’s current total of eight points is already enough.
Droitwich won the toss and decided to bat and they posted a decent 131-9 off their 20 overs thanks largely to a speedy 44 off 23 balls from opener Matt Williams, who was eventually stumped by Luke Shenton off the bowling of Derrick (2-24 off four).
Williams’ dismissal brought about a slump from 75-1 as the Redditch bowlers did a good a job, most notably South African Francois Mostert who recorded miserly figures of 2-8 off four and Harvey Chawner who took 2-12 off three.
However, it soon became apparent the Droitwich total was insufficient as opener Tom Field set about powering Redditch towards a third victory of the group stage.
He struck 14 fours and three maximums in a blistering unbeaten 99 off 58 balls and the only disappointment for the Kingfishers was the fact Field struck the winning runs to lead table-topping Redditch to 133-3 off 16.4 overs before he could complete a deserved century.
FECKENHAM kept alive their outside chances of reaching the final thanks to a 26-run victory over visitors Bromsgrove Boars thanks in the main to a fine unbeaten 63 from Jamie Reddish, who struck five boundaries and four sixes in his 37-ball innings.
Reddish’s efforts helped the hosts to a total of 128-6 off their 20 overs and they then took wickets at regular intervals in the Boars’ reply as only opener Lewis Cordes with a 36-ball 34 got to grips with the bowling.
However, he and fellow opener Ryan Pedley were both bowled by Yasir Mehmood who claimed superb figures of 2-8 off his four overs, whilst Matt Henning took 3-26 off four and Pete Monk took 2-24 off three as a fine all-round bowling performance restricted the visitors to 102-8.
Studley conceded their match at Barnt Green.
The next round of matches on June 25 see Bromsgrove Boars host Studley and Droitwich welcome second placed Astwood Bank who are two points behind Redditch with a game in hand, whilst a key match takes place in the battle to reach the final as fifth placed Feckenham entertain third placed Barnt Green.
