COLWALL v HARBORNE

COLWALL defeated Harborne by 151 runs in this Crusader Worcestershire League third division game.

As if anticipating a hard afternoon, Harborne won the toss, inserted Colwall and set defensive fields from the off.

David Powell and Nick Panniers cruised to a century opening stand, against bowlers who were tidy rather than penetrating on a typical Colwall wicket. Panniers survived a stumping chance before passing fifty, but Powell perished caught at deep square leg for 40.

Peter Butler was briefly aggressive and set the tone for the rest of the innings with his knock of 27, which included two sixes into neighbouring gardens. A flurry of three wickets in the 140s suggested a collapse was imminent, but Charlie Griffiths and Darren Cooke were able to rebuild the innings with a half century partnership.

Wickets fell often enough to suggest some help in the wicket which made attacking play awkward. Making his debut and batting at number nine, Odge Davey found no demons in the wicket as he raced to 28no, including hitting his second ball for six.

From the start of the innings, which begin in drizzle, it was clear that Harborne were interested only in survival. Whilst the ball remained dry, Damien Berry found prodigious swing, with three consecutive deliveries bamboozling opener Blackledge the last of which trimmed his off bail. The follow up delivery was as good and produced the first of three pairs of wickets in consecutive balls at the front of the innings.

Charlie Griffiths bowled tightly but without luck, as Harborne's one significant partnership developed for the third wicket. James Wagstaff broke the deadlock by having the obdurate James caught at mid-off by Darren Cooke.

Berry returning for a second spell in the gathering gloom ripped out the middle order as Wagstaff bowled tightly from the Pear Tree End. As the drizzle turned into rain, Griffiths returned to have Mason caught at slip to give Colwall a maximum 24 points.