ASTWOOD BANK 2nds suffered a second successive defeat on Saturday as Worcester visitors Old Elizabethans won by eight wickets to move top of the Division One 2nd XI table.
However, Bank sit a highly competitive third in the table and are just seven points behind the leaders heading into Saturday’s trip to Walsall.
Having won the toss, Bank skipper Andy Williams wanted to bat first on a decent looking pitch.
After losing a couple of early wickets, Williams and Andy Alexander put on a decent partnership until Williams was bowled by the impressive Eliot Bartlett.
Wickets fell regularly and it was only Alexander (57) and Paul Daws (37no) who provided some much-needed resistance as the hosts were dismissed for 174.
Bank needed early wickets but three half chances were put down and the visitors eased home thanks to Will French (46), Michael Cooper (60) and Bartlett (51no).
BANK 3rds were 23-run victors over visitors Stourport in and sit a healthy third in Worcestershire League Division Four.
The star of the batting show for in-form Bank was man of the match Paul Boycott who made 61 in a total of 135 all out, which proved enough as Stourport could only muster 112 in reply.
On a slow pitch, only Phil Williams (45) was able to show the patience needed and, when he was out to a fine catch from Miles Haslam on the long-on boundary off the bowling of Jamie Harland, the game was all but over.
Wickets were shared between all five bowlers with James Boycott and Miles Haslam taking three apiece.
A trip to Alveley awaits Bank 3rds on Saturday.
IT WAS Stourport who won the battle of the high-flyers in Division Four 2nd XI as the hosts posted an impressive 316-6 off their 45 overs.
In reply Bryan Melliard made a fine 117 and Devlin Jacobs 52, but Bank 4ths were dismissed for 253 and went down by 63 runs.
Bank 4ths host Barnards Green on Saturday.
THERE was a thrilling Cotswold Hills League Division Seven game between Bank 5ths and Warwick 3rds.
Bank posted 155-8 and in reply Warwick started strongly until some fine bowling from Rich Neal got rid of in-form skipper Thomas Cox.
This was then followed by excellent death bowling from James Watson (3-14), Jack Jones and Jess Humby (1-21 off nine) to really get Bank back into the game.
Warwick needed five runs off the last over and an excellent drive for four got them over the line with three balls to spare.
The sides meet again in the reverse fixture at Warwick this weekend.
MEANWHILE, congratulations go to the inaugural Astwood Bank Cricket Club table tennis champion Tom Shepherd, who beat a field of 32 players to take the crown, sealing the win with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Miles Haslam in the final.
Thanks to all involved in making the event a success and raising funds towards the new clubhouse.
