Cricket
Knockout Cup glory for Astwood Bank

Buy photos » Astwood Bank are pictured back row, left to right - Mike Desmond, Steve Haines, Andrzej Jagielski, Pete Alexander, Andy Alexander, Sam Thomas; front row, left to right - James Watson, Dan Thomas, Andy Williams, Alex Robinson, Sam Churchley. (s)

CELEBRATIONS went on into the evening for Astwood Bank's players after they had defeated Coombs Wood by 78 runs in the final of the Worcestershire League 1st XI Knockout Cup at Kidderminster CC on Monday.

With a few first team members missing for the final, it gave the opportunity for squad members looking to push into the first team the chance to shine and they took the opportunity with both hands at Chester Road.

With the weather being favourable and the pitch looking like a good batting wicket, Andrzej Jagielski won the toss and quickly decided that Astwood Bank would bat first.

With regular captain and opener Steve Adshead missing the game, Sam Thomas and Alex Robinson opened the batting.

With the ground having large boundaries, hard running was aplenty and Robinson and Thomas put on 50 in the first five overs despite having only struck three boundaries.

Thomas tried to take the attack to the bowlers and hit a couple more boundaries, before perishing with one big shot too many and was out for a quickfire 35.

Sam Churchley was next to bat and quickly upped the run rate with some fine running and big hitting when required.

Robinson was finally run out for a majestic 57 and Sam Churchley was 63 not out when the innings came to an end on 168-3 off 15 eight-ball overs.

The Coombs Wood innings could not have got off to a worse start for them as Pete Alexander grabbed a wicket with the first ball of the innings by clean bowling the opener.

After a brief partnership, wickets started to fall frequently with Steve Haines bagging three wickets and skipper Jagielski claiming 3-10 in four overs to send Coombs Wood crashing to 90 all out.

Astwood Bank batted, bowled and fielded aggressively and special mentions have to go to Churchley for winning the man of the match award and Jagielski for leading the team with his excellent bowling display.

Congratulations to all members of the team who have played in previous rounds and in the final.

The cup triumph capped a fine few days for Astwood Bank, who went ten points clear at the top of Worcestershire League Division One on Saturday by beating hosts Coombs Wood by 187 runs.

The visitors were put into bat and made a healthy 239-7 off their 50 overs thanks largely to Alex Robinson's 58 and an unbeaten 60 from Tom Harris, who then starred with the ball by taking 5-34 off 11 overs as the hosts were skittled for just 52 in 21 overs.

There was excellent support from Dan Thomas (3-10) and Pete Alexander (2-5) as Bank, who host Colwall tomorrow, clinched 24 points and took full advantage of previous leaders Pershore's heavy defeat at Colwall.

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