REDDITCH Entaco skipper Russell Southwick was full of praise for his players after they upset the form book last weekend with a dramatic last ball victory over local rivals Astwood Bank.
Redditch, for whom it was just a second win in seven Worcestershire League Cup Group B matches, were underdogs in a match reduced to 29 overs per side due to overnight rain against a Bank team who went into the clash having been beaten just once in six group fixtures.
The Kingfishers also lost bowler James Bevan moments before the match was due to start and he was replaced by veteran Dan Protherough.
Redditch won the toss and elected to field but Bank openers Tom Pedley (32) and Rob West (22) made 70 in quick time against some very generous bowling from the Redditch seamers.
Redditch bounced back by dismissing both openers with the score on 70 and grabbed the prized wicket of Tom Underhill brilliantly run out by teenager Sahil Mahmood.
Josh Baker failed to trouble the scorers, but the Bank bounced back as a fine 69-run partnership between Sam Thomas (35) and 40 from skipper Pete Alexander took the hosts up to 150.
Two more wickets fell in quick succession as Bank finished their innings on 170-7 off their 29 overs.
Haris Ali (2-19), Rizwan Mohammed (2-36) and Mahmood (1-21 off six overs) were the pick of the Redditch bowling attack.
In reply Redditch needed a good start and openers Olly Mason (27) and Adeel Sajid (54) duly obliged in making 72 for the opening wicket.
Southwick chipped in with 23, but the Bank bounced back by dismissing Rizwan Mohammed without scoring and Haris Ali for 13.
Anis Suleman batted with authority and style and made 28 off just 13 balls and received good support from Waqas Ali (10no) as Redditch squeezed home on the final ball to win by four wickets.
Jake Price (4-33) and Tom Harris (2/38) were the wicket-takers for Bank.
On Saturday Southwick is boosted by the return from injury of strike bowler Ghulam Moyhuddin who replaces Protherough, as the Kingfishers are in derby action again at Feckenham.
The visitors will be looking for a group double over Feckenham, but the latter were boosted by a stunning 80-run victory at group leaders Pershore last time out.
Redditch 2nds made it a good day for the club with a resounding 54-run victory over Avoncroft at Bromsgrove Road.
On an overcast day the visitors won the toss and elected to field and Redditch soon lost an early wicket as Tom Phelan (5) was caught by Jonathan Hunter off the bowling of Josh Cound.
Yassar Altaf (41) and skipper Luke Davis (33) added 61 for the second wicket and then 63 was added for the third with Liam Phelan hitting a fine 54 to put Redditch into the ascendancy.
Avoncroft bounced back with a clutch of wickets but a fine 33 not out from all-rounder Haleem Basharat took Redditch to a final score of 229-9 off their 40 overs, with the visitors conceding 59 runs in extras.
Hunter enjoyed a good day with the ball in taking 4-40 and Will Sach chipped in with 2-31.
In reply Avoncroft started well with skipper Dan Elliott and Will Sach taking on the Redditch attack in making 44 for the opening wicket.
Dave Apperley continued the good start with 29 but Redditch bounced back to reduce the visitors to 137-7.
Cound (26) and keeper Matt Palmer (15) added 27 for the eighth wicket but Redditch dismissed both in quick succession and wrapped up the match with two overs remaining.
Evergreen club chairman Nick Fowkes found some much-needed form with the ball in taking 2-29, ably supported by Amaan Malik (2-35), Basharat (2-45) and 2-43 from all-rounder Tom Phelan.
On Saturday Bromsgrove are the visitors to Bromsgrove Road for what is likely to be a closely-fought game.
