SKIPPER Waqas Ali has called for improved performance levels from his Redditch Entaco players when they make the trip to promotion-chasing Stratford on Saturday.
The third-placed Panthers will host a Kingfishers side who arrive in seventh place in Birmingham League Division Three following their losing draw at fellow mid-table outfit Pelsall.
The home side, having won the toss, amassed 292-9 off their 55 overs with Todd Henderson hitting an impressive 91 in sharing a century stand for the seventh wicket with skipper Danny Pennell (26).
Redditch were left to rue earlier missed catches as openers Tom Boyd (40) and Alex Jones (30) made 77 for the first wicket.
Waqas Ali continued his excellent season with the ball by taking 4-77 and there were two wickets apiece for Haris Ali and Haleem Basharat.
In reply Redditch started well through openers Rizwan Mohammed (40) and Tom Field (57) but Pelsall bounced back through Tom Boyd (4-36).
Overseas player Tim Fitch (44) steadied the ship but it was left to Dan Protherough (13no) and Waqas Ali (17no) to make an unbroken partnership of 26 for the tenth wicket as the Kingfishers finished on 229-9.
This weekend, Ghulam Moyhuddin will return to the Redditch side in place of Protherough who broke his thumb whilst batting.
The 2nds’ Division Two 2nd XI home fixture against in-form Kidderminster saw the visitors take the points with a winning draw.
Kidderminster made 261-5 off 50 overs with Joe Murkowski (70), Shameer Ahmed (54), George Hatfield (52) and James Kinder (50) all scoring half-centuries.
Teenagers Sahil Mahmood (3-72) and Mo Zahid (2-63) were the pick of the Redditch bowlers.
In reply Redditch finished on 224-7 off 50 overs with Steven du Cros hitting 57 not out, whilst there were valuable contributions from Naseek Hussain (39), Anis Suleman (38) and Stefan Jagielski (31).
Stratford are the visitors to Bromsgrove Road on Saturday.
The 3rds produced an impressive Worcestershire League Division Five performance at Pershore, winning by six wickets with skipper Warren Bisp taking the honours with 7-19 as Pershore were bowled out for just 150. Skipper Alex Brown top-scored with 78.
The Kingfishers reached their target in just 34 overs with all-rounder Tom Kitching (52) and the evergreen Allen Smith (47no) leading the way.
Highley are the visitors to the Entaco on Saturday.
The 4ths produced an accomplished Division Eight North performance to beat leaders Old Halesonians by 128 runs at the Entaco.
Redditch totalled 255-9 with teenager Faheen Shahid hitting a career-best 85, ably supported by Dean Ottley (33) and 27 from James Oakley.
In reply the leaders were soon in trouble as Rob Pegg took 3-25, Jacob Ottley 3-32 and Liam Clarke 2-1 to dismiss Old Halesonians for just 127.
On Saturday Redditch 4ths face Feckenham 3rds at Studley High School.
