Warwickshire & West Midlands Sport

Berkswell miss out in thrilling clash

BERKSWELL narrowly missed out on the opportunity to move to the top of Birmingham League Division Two after losing by one wicket in a nail-biting match at Whitchurch.
In a rain affected game, reduced to 26 overs per side, and having lost the toss and been inserted, Berkswell started rapidly on a wicket that should have favoured the bowlers and had reached 30-1 at the end of the sixth over. Mo Akhlaq (3) was the unfortunate batsman to be run out off a direct hit.
James Neale (33) continued to set the pace, ably assisted by Wes Hartslief (17) and Khizar Zaman (16) and by the 20th over the visitors were on 85 but in the haste to add runs six wickets had fallen.
The final six overs added another 35 runs for the loss of three wickets and the innings eventually came to end on 120-9.
In reply, Whitchurch started shakily against the tight bowling of Hartslief and Dave Brignull - Hartslief claiming the wicket of Simon Bowen (0) with the third ball of the innings.
The second wicket fell in the fourth over with the score on nine and the third at 17 in the sixth over, but a partnership of 43 in 11 overs between Hasnain and Gregory stopped the loss of wickets - Hasnain being given a life when dropped early in his innings.
The failure to take the wicket of Hasnain (65) proved costly as he had steered the home side to within sight of victory when he was finally bowled by Brignull in the 22nd over with the score on 95.
However, the loss of three wickets in two overs bowled by Babar Khan had Whitchurch back on the ropes at 116-8 at the start of the final over. A run out off the first ball made it 116-9 with only last man Williams to come.
But the luck was with the home side as the final pairing scrambled the necessary five runs to see them through to a win with one ball of the over remaining.
Khan was the pick of the Berkswell bowling with 4-43 whilst Brignull returned 2-47 and Hartslief 1-29.
Disappointed skipper Dominic Ostler said: “We kept the pressure on them early on and it looked to be going our way. We knew how important the wicket of Hasnain was but unfortunately we let slip the one chance he offered and it made all the difference.
“However, despite the loss we are still in touch with the top of the league and can take the positives from this match with us into the next game against Bridgnorth.”
The weather caused the 2nds home game against Whitchurch to be abandoned but they still remain in joint second place in their league.
Berkswell’s u11s put in a good performance at Water Orton but were just edged out.
Team manager Pete Wreford said: “Water Orton got 242 and although we lost by 18 runs the boys showed plenty of spirit and some very positive signs. There were good performances from Callum Durrant, Josh Aspinnal and Jack Reidy. Eight-year-old Jamie Durrant also shows a lot of promise.”

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