SKIPPER Waqas Ali leads Redditch Entaco to Lichfield on Saturday buoyed by a first victory of the Birmingham League Division Three campaign which lifted the Kingfishers into eighth place.
The 81-run success at Milford Hall was based on a fine bowling performance and leaves Redditch bidding to extend their unbeaten run to three matches this weekend.
Batting first on a difficult pitch, Redditch lost early wickets but a fine 31 from Tom Phelan and 26 from Stefan Jagielski aided a recovery until the home side bounced back and reduced the Kingfishers to 123-8.
Skipper Ali hit a fine 28 and, with the bonus of 42 extras, Redditch were bowled out for 182.
In reply Milford Hall struggled against the Redditch bowling attack and wickets tumbled at regular intervals.
The home side were left playing for a draw but Redditch prevailed and dismissed them for just 101 thanks to a season’s-best 4-24 from Ghulam Moyhuddin, Haris Ali’s 3-17 and 2-27 from Waqas Ali.
The 2nds slipped to a five-wicket defeat at home to Dorridge in Division Two South as Chris Leavers’ 5-26 did the damage in dismissing the hosts for 159, of which Adam Gailey made 56 and Geoff Eley 33.
In reply a fine 71 from Luke James and a quickfire unbeaten 25 from Craig Roberts saw Dorridge home to a comfortable victory despite Olly Mason’s 2-39 and Nick Fowkes’ 2-44.
The 3rds recorded a fine seven-wicket victory against Harborne 5ths at the Entaco. The visitors made 215-8 off 45 overs as Oliver Smith top-scored with 41, with Faizan Ahmed taking 3/-25 and Jack Mayo 3-51.
In reply Redditch were reduced to 13-2 but a fine partnership of 146 between Anis Suleman and Ahmed (49) put the hosts in charge and Suleman went on to register his first century for the club, finishing on 108 as Redditch cruised home in just 30.1 overs.
Redditch 4ths travelled to Coombs Wood and suffered an eight-wicket defeat as they were bowled out for just 99, with the evergreen Nick Little top-scoring with 27.
Steady batting from Jason Clifford (45no) saw the home side to victory, with Ian Blaynee taking the two wickets to fall.
