Cricket
Another agonising loss for Redditch

THERE was more heartache for Redditch on Saturday as they slipped to a staggering fifth two-wicket defeat of their Worcestershire League Division One campaign at Oldswinford.

The hosts' victory completed a league double over the Kingfishers, who now sit just a place and two points above the bottom two ahead of tomorrow's visit of Droitwich to Bromsgrove Road.

It really is crunch time for Luke Davis' men in their battle for survival as the following two weekends serve up matches against the current bottom two Hagley and Coombs Wood.

Redditch again lost the toss on Saturday and were asked to bat and, despite an excellent opening partnership of 69 between skipper Davis (47) and Tom Field (29), Redditch struggled to get the innings going as only Yassar Altaf (41) in the middle order contributed as Redditch posted 192-8 in their 50 overs.

Once again the bowlers had a difficult job to do as both the outfield and wicket got better as the day progressed and, despite the efforts of Waqas Ali (1-16), Greg Chinn (1-40), Perry Derrick (2-51) and overseas star Aidan Andrews (4-55), Oldswinford reached 193-8 with three overs to spare, with skipper Tom Blunt top scoring with 56.

Davis will be hoping for a better display from his batsmen tomorrow and the availability of Dan Protherough and Joe Hill will come as a welcome boost against their mid-table visitors.

The 2nd XI took 14 points from a winning draw against visitors Worcester Dominies largely thanks to a magnificent 81 not out from Geoff Eley, ably supported by teenagers Jack Roberson (56) and Devlin Jacobs (26), as Redditch scored 222-3 off their 50 overs.

Dominies took on the Redditch attack and Myles Reece and Georgia Redmayne put on 57 for the first wicket, but Redditch bounced back as Nev Mason (3-58) and Noman Chaudhry (2-33) reduced the visitors to 184-7 off their 50 overs, in which Anthony Doyle top scored with 52 not out.

The 3rd XI fixture at home to Netherton was abandoned due to an unfit pitch and the 4ths went down to an 81-run defeat at Kempsey.

The hosts scored 193-6, with Adeel Ahmed taking 4-53. In reply Redditch struggled to just 112 all out, with skipper Ashley Davis (28) the main contributor.

On Sunday a sun-drenched Bromsgrove Road saw a very entertaining game as the 2nd XI gained some revenge for the club over Oldswinford with a 32-run victory.

Winning the toss and batting first, Redditch scored 229-5 off their 40 overs, largely thanks to a magnificent third wicket partnership of 116 between Roberson (79) and Ashley Davis (57).

The visitors took on the challenge and Harry Stanier (44) and Thomas Hayward (44) almost brought Oldswinford an unlikely victory, but some excellent bowling and fielding from Redditch gave the home side a well deserved victory.

Field was the pick of the home bowlers in taking 2-24 off eight overs.

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