HALF-CENTURIES from Oliver Mason and Russell Southwick helped Redditch Entaco pick up points in a losing draw at Brockhampton on Saturday.
Chasing the hosts’ declared score of 326-4 in Herefordshire, Redditch battled on to the conclusion of their innings to post a commendable 254-6 total.
Brockhampton batted first after winning the toss and eventually found their rhythm after the fall of the second wicket, as middle-order batsmen Will Tanner (146 n.o) immediately started exerting his influence with a stand of 79 alongside opener Tom Austwick (95).
Entaco were unable to skittle out the hosts’ danger man in what proved a tough day for Redditch’s bowlers – Noman Mohammad Chaudhry leading the way with his two wickets for 93 runs conceded.
Needing a big response, the visitors impressed early on through top-order duo Oliver Mason (73) and Russell Southwick (75), but could not build enough momentum to truly threaten Brockhampton’s sizeable total.
Redditch will search for a first Worcestershire County Premier Division win of the season in Saturday’s home fixture with Pershore.
DIVISION rivals Astwood Bank were also unsuccessful in their search for a win, losing by three wickets at Bromyard.
The Bank batted steadily after losing the toss, Sam Thomas (49) building on good work early in the innings by skipper Tom Underhill (45) to drag the visitors towards the 200-run mark.
While their talisman was downed for the sixth wicket, the emergence of Adam Warbrick (79) gave Astwood Bank a second wind.
Coming in at number seven, the visiting batsman was making good strides towards a century before being run out from an Alex Parker (3-41) delivery.
With the next two balls delivered by Bromyard’s bowler came two more wickets, as Joel Haslam (0) and Dan Thomas (0) both made a speedy exit to end Bank’s innings.
Bromyard immediately built up a head of steam and smashed 85 runs for their opening partnership between Ian Bullock (64) and Nick Leighton (40).
Number three Ed Smith (30) helped continue momentum and lay on 60 runs with Bullock before the second wicket, at which point Dan Taylor (3-74) and Dan Thomas (2-53) came into their element.
The emergence of George Bouston (46 n.o) and captain Greg Leighton (55) was an untimely one though, the duo hitting seven sixes between them to guide Bromyard to victory.
Astwood Bank welcome unbeaten Old Elizabethans to Sambourne Lane on Saturday.
