Penkridge Cricket Club Match Reports for 2010
July
July 3rd
1st XI
Penkridge 1st XI gave their title ambitions a huge boost on Saturday as they beat league leaders Wednesbury by three wickets in their top of the table clash at Pillaton. Penkridge won the toss and inserted the visitors who made very steady progress thanks chiefly to Neil Whistance (43) and Carl Baker (63). As Wednesbury attempted to accelerate the pace of their innings in the latter stages, they found Mo Hassan in fine form. He claimed five Wednesbury scalps finishing with figures of 5-57 as Wednesbury closed on 223-7 from their 50 overs. Penkridge started very brightly and were cruising at 151-1 - Alex Watson (24), Waseem Khan (71) and Ronnie Hassan (55), but a flurry of wickets raised Penkridge pulse rates. Chad Clarke manfully steadied the ship with a confident 19 not out to claim victory in the 46th over and close the gap on Wednesbury at the top of the table to 17 points.
2nd XI
The second XI found themselves outgunned against the same opposition at the Union Sports Ground in Wednesbury. Penkridge won the toss and asked their hosts to bat, but a run feast then ensued as Penkridge's bowling attack was put to the sword. Khalid Sadiq took 3-28 at the top of the innings, but thereafter Ashley Law (73 not out), Stuart Brotherton (30), Shiv Mathur (70) and Gary Baker (40 not out) piled on the runs as Wednesbury posted 301-7. The Penkridge reply had a solid enough start with veterans Neil Davis (54) and Mohammed Shafiq (40) pushing the run rate, but after their demise, the middle/lower order struggled to get to grips with the Wednesbury bowling attack, and only a sterling effort from gifted utility player Warren Lloyd (24 not out) prevented Penkridge from recording their first defeat of the 2010 campaign as they finished well short on 208-9.
3rd XI
The third XI continued their steady progress in Division 3 as they posted a solid winning draw, also against Wednesbury. Batting first, Penkridge managed a very respectable 254-7 from their 50 overs thanks to the efforts of Manzoor Sadaq (43), John Heaton (46), Dave Starr (38) and Will Hartwell (42). Ant Hartwell (3-30) snared 3 Wednesbury victims in a lively opening spell, but Wednesbury managed to consolidate and finish on 201-6 at the end of their overs.
July 10th
1st XI
Pelsall stalled Penkridge 1st XI's progress in the league last Saturday, when, despite dominating the game, the Pillaton side had to settle for a winning draw. Losing the toss once again, Penkridge were asked to bat first and made very steady progress thanks to the efforts of Alex Watson (55), Ronnie Hassan (55), skipper Paul Szewczyk (45), and Laeq Chishti (32), reaching 254-7 from their 50 overs. Pelsall never threatened to win the game, but equally, Penkridge's attack struggled to take wickets at key moments, and apart from a flurry during Ross Shelton's spell of 3-20 from 7 overs, Pelsall looked very comfortable. Paul Grainger carried his bat for 84 not out as Pelsall closed on 190-6 giving Penkridge the winning draw.
2nd XI
Pelsall 2nd XI sent Penkridge 2nd XI to their first defeat of the 2010 campaign as they secured a victory which seemed a remote possibility halfway through their innings. Losing the toss, Penkridge batted first and were cruising at 90-2 before being reduced to 105-5 thanks to the introduction of Simon Thomas (5-44) to the Pelsall attack. Khalid Sadiq posted a boundary laden 68 in quick time, and Steve Jones dropped anchor with 22 not out, but Penkridge were finally bowled out for 233 in the 44th over. Steve New (20) and Mark Liddington (46) made steady progress for Pelsall in reply, before Jon Price took four quick wickets (4-75) to leave Pelsall reeling at 121-8, and a maximum points victory looked on the cards for Penkridge. Simon Thomas batting at No.10 has other ideas however and followed up his great work with the ball to post an unbeaten6 6 and with steady support from youngster Benjamin Ridding (29 out out), saw Pelsall home in the 52nd over of their reply.
3rd XI
Penkridge 3rd XI smashed Penn by 114 runs in their clash last Saturday. Batting first, Adam Ball (70), Tom Morris (111 not out) with his second century of the season, and a quickfire half century by Martin Dawson (51 not out), saw Penkridge to 281-5. A tidy bowling performance by Penkridge then saw Penn struggle for runs throughout their innings. Dave Starr (2-33) and Michael Hartwell (2-19) bowled especially well, and James Heaton blew away the Penn tail with 3-5 from 5 overs as Penn were bowled out for 167 giving Penkridge a maximum 25 point haul, keeping them in the hunt for the title.
July 17th
1st XI
The 1st XI crushed a weak Hammerwich XI by 8 wickets after being frustrated by Pelsall last week. Penkridge won the toss and asked their hosts to bat, and a sluggish innings faltered to 176-6 from their 50 overs. Matt Axton top scored with 62 and Mo Hassan was the pick of the Penkridge attack with a return of 3-24. Penkridge made quick work of the total Waseem Khan top scored with 54, Ronnie Hassan chipped in with 52, consistent Alex Watson posted 44 and Chad Clarke used the batting practice to record 23 not out as Penkridge cantered home with 10 overs to spare.
2nd XI
The second XI had their lower order to thank as they returned to winning ways on Saturday against Hammerwich. Penkridge won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first, and made regular inroads to keep the Hammers down to 205-9 from their 50 overs. Jon Price was tormentor-in-chief taking 5-75 from his 15 overs. In reply Penkridge found themselves 101-5 despite a less-than-fluent 50 from Matt Jones. It was left to a hat-trick of experienced veterans to bring the team through. Kev Baker (30), Steve Jones (41) and Neil Davis (26 not out) laid the platform for the champagne moment which saw the versatile Warren Lloyd strike his first ball for 4 to clinch victory.
3rd XI
The third XI scored a maximum 25 points as they beat Pelsall on a one-sided affair. Penkridge batted first and posted an imposing 287-4, thanks to the efforts of Adam Ball (82), Manzoor Sadaq (36) and increasingly reliable youngster Tom Morris (66 not out). In reply, Pelsall found the varied Penkridge attack too hot to handle with James Heaton (3-50), and Tom Morris (3-13) causing most of the problems. Pelsall were finally bowled out for 160 keeping Penkridge hot on the heels of the league leaders.
July 24th
1st XI
Penkridge 1st XI remain hot on the heels of league leaders Wednesbury with a crushing win over Wightwick & Finchfield. A nine wicket success has seen them move within 10 points of the table toppers, their narrowest leading margin for over 6 weeks. Penkridge won the toss and asked W&F to bat first. Gary Pope and Leaq Chishti kept the runs to a minimum, but the introduction of Ross Shelton (4-15) and Ian Brown (3-14) swung the game in the Pillaton side's favour as W&F were skittled for 127, with only Jem Stack (49) providing any real resistance. Skipper Paul Szewczyk opened the batting with Alex Watson due to the absence of Watson's usual partner Waseem Khan, and he led from the front with a hard hit 66 not out. Watson perished shortly before victory was reached in the 16th over for 59 scored from just 42 balls.
2nd XI
The 2nd XI has a similarly convincing victory in their game at Old Wulfs, claiming a maximum 25 points. The Old Wulfs bowlers were put to the sword as Penkridge were asked to bat with Steve Jones (84 not out), Shafiq Mohammed (71), Rob Lawrence (57) and 38 not out from just 19 balls from Neil Davis leading the way to Penkridge's commanding total of 290-4 from just 47 overs. In reply, OW collapsed to a remarkable 7-5 thanks to the pace duo of Tim Dredge (3-22) and Khalid Sadiq (5-48). Some lusty blows in the OW lower order from Damian Jackson (31) and Steve Brown (22) restored some degree of respectability as they were finally bowled out for 117 in the 34th over.
3rd XI
The 3rd XI came unstuck against league leaders Whitmore Reans on Saturday to halt their progression up the league table. Batting first Penkridge were dismissed for a modest 133 and Whitmore Reans chased down their target for the loss of 5 wickets.