COOKHILL enjoyed a day of firsts as they recorded their first victory of the Worcestershire League Division Five season against Pershore at the picturesque Elmley Castle.
Skipper Kenny Hirst won his first toss of the campaign and put the hosts into bat on a green and soft strip and Pershore openers Dominic Capaldi (36) and Andy Green (12) made steady progress before first Andrew Leigh (1-37) and then Simon Edmunds (3-29), removed both of them in relatively quick succession.
Shuttleworth (5-31) replaced Leigh and Hirst (1-23) came on for Edmunds in a double bowling change, but it was veteran offspinner Shuttleworth that turned the screw, and the game in Cookhill’s favour by ripping through the Pershore middle order.
After taking five for 31, his and Cookhill’s first five-wicket haul of the season, the hosts were all out for 126 in the 38th over.
A special mention for wicket keeper Stuart Griffiths, who took five dismissals behind the stumps despite nursing a dislocated finger.
Cookhill set about chasing 127 for victory but openers Matthew Palmer (7) and Daniel Mills (1) were soon back in the club house.
Roger Smith (18) and Hirst (39) steadied the ship and edged Cookhill towards their target.
But after their departure, Griffiths (10), Chris Pearsall (11) and Morris (5) all fell and Cookhill were seven down and still needing 14 to win, Leigh eventually calmed the Cookhill nerves by smashing three boundaries and finishing on 21 not out as Cookhill won by three wickets in the 38th over.
Cookhill will look to continue the momentum away at Cutnall Green tomorrow (Saturday)
