Penkridge Cricket Club Match Reports for 2010

April

April 17th

1st XI

Penkridge 1st XI got their 2010 campaign off to a flying start with a crunching 7 wicket victory at fellow Championship hopefuls, Wednesbury. After winning the toss, Penkridge asked the home team to bat and they raced out of the blocks, cruising to 90-1 from the first 18 overs. Wednesbury skipper Craig Cartwright (44) was the main benefactor of some generous bowling and fielding, but Wednesbury's progress was quickly checked with the introduction of Jon Price (3-36) and Mo Hassan (2-42) to the Penkridge bowling attack. A further flurry of runs from the last 8 overs saw Wednesbury post 207 from their 50 over allocation. Wednesbury's opening attack were equally generous with some poor bowling, and Penkridge openers Alex Watson (57) and Wasii Khan (55) were quick to capitalise as they put on an opening stand of 90 within the first 20 overs. Ronnie Hassan (44 not out) and new skipper Paul Szewczyk (35 not out) then took up the charge and they looked in imperious form as they chased down the target inside 40 overs.
 

2nd XI

The second XI were frustrated by the same opposition as they dominated the opening league game at Pillation. Veteran Adam Ball (120 not out) carried his bat in a high quality innings as he helped Penkridge towards an imposing total of 253-5. Fellow seasoned campaigner Steve Jones with 60 helped Ball put on 145 for the first wicket and laid the foundations for a cameo 27 from Mohammed Shafiq lower down the order. The total posted always looked too much for Wednesbury who won this division by a clear 50 points in 2009. They struggled against the wily bowling of Dave Starr (5-36), and although Makan (101) offered some resistance in the middle order, the Wednesbury innings closed on 209-9, giving Penkridge a morale boosting winning draw.
 

3rd XI

Penkridge were asked to bat first on a slow paced pitch and against a disciplined Wednesbury attack.  All the batsmen found it difficult to score freely with very few boundaries being hit, Manz Sadaq top scored on 25 with Barry Hearsey 21 and Martin Dawson 16 the only other batsman to hit double figures.  Pick of the Wednesbury attack D Vincent with 5 for 10 off 13 overs. In reply Wednesbury made a good start with the openers going well until the skipper brought himself on and taking the first wicket bowling Williams. quickly followed by having Patel caught in the covers by Rich Birch making his debut. A Jasal hitting a quickfire 23 before sustaining a leg injury and then having to bat with a runner before being bowled by Ant Hartwell   Wednesbury quickly lost a bizarre wicket when Rashav hit the ball through Mid Wicket and Martin Dawson gave chase stopping the ball just short of the boundary before disappearing down the bank out of site, Ashley Rylance supporting picked the ball up and threw to the Will Hartwell who whipped the bails off as the batsman were having a chat in the middle of the wicket thinking it had gone for 4, highly amusing for the fielding side.  Probert quickly followed hitting the skipper straight to Rich Birch who took another fine catch in the covers.  D Birch quickly followed Ct at the wicket by Will Hartwell off the old man, Penkridge tails were up and were scenting victory.  Unfortunately for Penkridge in came Shiv who with some good hitting was starting to make it look easy to score on this pitch.  Michael Hartwell (Mini Curls) replaced his dad and quickly got in to the groove and snapped up Rowe stumped by big the elder "Chuckle" brother.  Shiv survived a coupe of half chances before finally seeing Wednesbury home with 34 Not Out.

April 24th

1st XI

2nd XI

3rd XI

Penkridge won the toss and asked Penn to Bat on another warm sunny day.  Ant and Michael Hartwell opened the bowling with the latter being given the new ball for the first time in senior cricket.  Both regularly beat the bat but had no luck,  Kieran Smith was introduced to the attack and struck almost immediately removing Zhaki Jnr caught by Manz.  Tom Bowater's luck finally ran out when bowled by Kieran for 38, C Haynes scored a patient 21 before being undone by the wily old fox Barry Hearsey being caught by Manz.  Penn quickly lost their 4th wicket when Summ was stumped by Will Hartwell off the skipper for his second wicket. Kieran chipped in with his 3rd wicket in his second spell with Patel being caught by Tom Morris.  Alex Haynes hit a quick fire 44 before Mini Curls deservedly had him caught by his big Bro Will for his first wicket of the day. Penn finished on 173 for 6  off their 50 overs with Ghazi Zhaki 42 Not Out. 

Manz and Tom Morris opened up for Penkridge and added 27 for the first wicket before young Tom played back to one which kept low and was bowled for 4.  Zed Khan then took the score to 51 before Zed was ct for 10.  Rich Birch 1 and Will Hartwell 0 quickly followed with the bemused Manz looking on from the other end.  Manz was the joined by Kieran Smith and the pair then started to bat with increasing dominance and with Kieran batting superbly, Manz however was in no mood to be overshadowed and was hitting the ball to all parts of the ground with one huge six which also scored a fine goal before resting in the hedge.  With the score on 159 and Manz on 99 who played the ball out to square leg Kieran was unlucky to be  run out by a direct throw going for a quick single for an excellent 26 and a partnership of 104 .  Lewis Parkes was next in, Manz scored his 100 and eventually finished 109 Not Out with Lewis 3 Not Out.

Penkridge 175 for 5 won by 5 wickets in the 42 over a big 25 points for Barry's Army.