Cricket
Profitable day for Alcester & Ragley

ALCESTER & RAGLEY produced a clinical bowling performance to earn a 73-run victory at Overbury in Cotswold Hills League Division One on Saturday.

The visitors were restricted to 159-8 but in reply dismissed their hosts for just 86 to earn 20 points.

Ragley were invited to bat first and eased to 26-0 with no alarms until Ben Lee hit a short ball straight to square leg.

A precession of wickets then tumbled, with only captain Adam Warbrick showing the required application.

Warbrick reached his half century in the 24th over but at this stage he had seen six partners come and go and the score was a precarious 76-6.

Overbury captain Brookes was the pick of the bowlers as he claimed three wickets.

He claimed his fourth when he produced a superb delivery to bowl Warbrick for an excellent 54.

Ragley were staring down the barrel at 86-7 and they were indebted to a priceless partnership for the eighth wicket of 70 between Dave Pilkington and Marc Woolley.

They eased themselves into the repair job by picking off ones and twos at will before Pilkington took over the bulk of the scoring as he stroked four fours and a six in an invaluable 41.

Woolley ended with 24 not out as Ragley posted a respectable 159-8.

Overbury's response put Ragley's final total into perspective as they crumbled to 15-5 from eight overs in the face of an excellent hostile opening spell from Sid Bennett, who claimed four of the wickets as he made the most of the conditions.

Woolley claimed the other wicket as he finished with 1-6.

Warbrick introduced himself to the attack in the 13th over and ended any hope Overbury had of clawing themselves back into the game as he had the dangerous Matty well caught in the deep by Lewis Clarke.

Overbury lost further wickets to Westwood (1-25) and Sloan (1-6) before Warbrick wrapped the innings up for 86 as he took his third wicket to finish with 3-24.

Bennett (4-20) took the bowling plaudits with his four early wickets and Ragley move up to sixth in the table.

Tomorrow they face Overbury again, this time at Ragley Park, and will look to build on this victory to move further up the table.

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