JACK WILLIAMS cracked a superb century but it was not enough to give Studley victory against Earlswood in Warwickshire League Division One.
No.3 batsman Williams led the Studley batting with 100 off 133 balls, including nine fours and three sixes, as they were dismissed for 174.
But Earlswood had their own century-maker, with Matt Edwards smashing a whirlwind 115 off 66 balls to take them past their target, Edwards sealing a seven-wicket win in the grand manner with a six off the first ball of the 29th over.
Studley lie second from bottom in the standings, but nine points behind third-bottom Pak Shaheen and the sides meet at the Coventry side’s ground on Saturday.
Having been put into bat, Studley lost both opener Leon Marks and Sam Fonyodi cheaply, but Williams single-handedly led the fightback from 24-2.
Only Chris Moss, who hit a patient 18 off 60 balls, provided any lasting support as Studley, with only ten players, finished on 174 in the 47th over.
Joshua Craven (3-12) and Joe Bussey (3-37) were the main wicket-takers.
In reply, Christopher Walder dismissed Sardara Narotra and James Coles cleanbowled Alex Laid to leave Earlswood 20-2 but Edwards and Ben Jackson (26) put on 59 for the third wicket. Then Edwards and Marvin Rice (26no) continued the onslaught with an unbeaten 101-run partnership to steer the visitors home.
Opener Bash Bashir struck 81 but Studley Seconds fell to a two-wicket defeat away to Bournville 2nds in Division Eight West.
Bashir received support from Daniel Taylor (22), Nick Hobbs (33) and Danny Hunt finished 29 not out as they totalled 192-5 in their 45 overs.
But Bournville’s Sunny Dheer produced a match-winning reply with 95 as the hosts got to their target with ten balls to spare. There were two wickets apiece for Taylor (2-37), Richard Lewis (2-37( and Zeshan Bashir (2-37).
Aston Unity are the visitors to Studley on Saturday.
Studley Thirds were skittled for 94 as they lost by three wickets away to Smethwick 3rds in Division 11 West.
Mudasar Bashir top-scored with 24 as Studley’s innings lasted just 21.3 overs, Ahmed Tariq taking 5-33, while Smethwick paced their reply to get home in 37.4 overs.
