DESPITE seeing all four of their sides suffer defeats last time out, the Redditch Entaco teams remain in good spirits heading into Saturday’s encounters.
The first team travel to Belbroughton looking to bounce back from Saturday’s three-wicket defeat at home to Colwall, who secured victory with ten balls to spare.
The Kingfishers posted 212-8 off their 50 overs as Australian Joe Scarcella found some form with the bat, scoring 44, and he was ably supported by Ghulam Moyhuddin who made 24.
Colwall batted sensibly and a match-winning partnership between Ben Cooke (73) and Ben Butler (40) saw the visitors home. Scarcella (2-38) and Tom Phelan (2-47) were the pick of the home bowlers.
Redditch are now just one place above the Worcestershire League Division One relegation zone and visit a Belbroughton side two places and 15 points better off.
Colwall were also the conquerors of Redditch 2nds in Division One 2nd XI, despite the visitors posting a healthy 261-5 as Yassar Altaf led the way with 117 not out.
Colwall bounced back through Henry Coleman (103) and some shoddy fielding from the Kingfishers allowed the home side to take the points with three overs to spare.
Belbroughton are Saturday’s visitors to Bromsgrove Road.
The 3rds suffered defeat by 33 runs at Old Elizabethans in Division Five. The home side were bowled out for 245 as skipper Matt Mansfield led the way with 4-37 and teenager Ollie Mason chipped in with 3-35.
In reply Redditch started brightly as Mansfield made 34 but a cluster of wickets put the home side in control. Aleem Shahid (30) and Ben Hicklin (14) put on 54 for the tenth wicket, but Redditch were finally bowled out for 212.
The 4ths lost another close game in Division Five 2nd XI at the Entaco as they were bowled out for just 129 in 28 overs, with skipper Nev Mason the mainstay with 63.
In reply Old Elizabethans were reduced to 48-7 thanks to Rob Pegg (3-26) and Mason (4-20) but, once they had finished their spells, OEs took charge and finished on 132-7 with six overs to spare.
West Malvern are the opponents for the 3rds and 4ths on Saturday at home and away respectively.
On Monday the 2nds contested the Worcestershire Cricket League Knockout final on a sun-drenched evening at Kidderminster.
Redditch posted 165-9 off 15 overs as Sam Egan top scored with 37 and skipper Geoff Eley chipped in with 32.
In reply Bewdley were cruising along thanks to a century opening partnership between Sam Beasley and Matt Thwaites, but Redditch bounced back as Egan took three quick wickets.
The drama came down to the last over and Bewdley sneaked home off the penultimate ball to win by two wickets.
There was a victory at last on Wednesday as Redditch destroyed visitors Feckenham in the East Worcestershire T20 competition.
Feckenham were bowled out for just 55 as Perry Derrick took five wickets for just four runs off his four overs, whilst Waqas Ali chipped in with 3-5.
Redditch completed the ten-wicket demolition through openers Dan Protherough (25no) and Jack Roberson (24no) in 11.3 overs.
