ANDY FENNELL played one of the finest innings seen at Cookhill in many years but his sensational unbeaten 103 could not save the hosts from a seven-wicket defeat to Harvington.
The hosts’ preparation for the Worcestershire League Division Five fixture was hampered by an unprecedented amount of first team squad members being unavailable and, after winning the toss, Cookhill slipped to 19-6.
However, enter Fennell who, with nothing to lose, soon took the attack to the Harvington bowlers and quickly raced to 50. With some able support down the order, Fennell concentrated on trying to get Cookhill up to some sort of total.
When Neil Shuttleworth fell leg before for five, the score had reached 125-9 and Harvington probably had thoughts of wrapping the innings up quickly but the veteran Billy Harris joined Fennell in the middle and, after playing himself in, dispatched a number of exquisite cover drives to the boundary, proving the old adage that class is permanent.
Fennell was showing great restraint at the other end – the lusty blows were fewer but carefully chosen. With the final over about to start, a message was sent out to him that he needed ten more runs for his century and a four off the first ball was quickly followed by a massive six and everyone was standing and applauding a quite remarkable innings as Cookhill closed on 177-9 with Harris unbeaten on 23.
Cookhill’s bowlers, though, lacked the same bite as the visitors had enjoyed and a measured 71 not out from Harvington skipper Chris Andrews helped them reach their target for the loss of just three wickets in the 34th over.
Cookhill visit Harborne 5ths on Saturday.
