IT WAS a Bank Holiday weekend of mixed fortunes for Berkswell as they suffered a seven-run defeat away at Brockhampton on the Saturday, but recorded a convincing 108-run victory over near neighbours Dorridge on Monday.
The game at Brockhampton was favourable for the bowlers on a damp track, and only one batsman in each team made any real contribution with the bat.
In their innings, Brockhampton had Henry Langford (45) to thank for reaching the total of 141 in 47.1 overs with Darren Maddy returning 4 for 17, and Nick James 2 for 16 from ten overs apiece for Berkswell.
In reply only Maddy (57) made double figures and the Berkswell innings closed agonisingly close just eight runs away from the win when Chris Cheslin was the last man out in the 42nd over.
Bank Holiday Monday saw Berkswell back at Meeting House Lane and after a considerable delay for rain the game eventually started as a twenty overs a side match.
Batting first, Berkswell reached 207 for 5 in their allotted overs thanks to an incredible innings by Darren Maddy (105 not out).
Facing just 58 balls he produced an innings of class reaching his century off 56 balls, which included nine fours and four sixes, and he received valuable support from Dominic Ostler (23), Oliver Haley (24) and Nick James (28).
The Dorridge innings was always going to struggle to reach the required total, but some early lusty blows from Ali Ebad (17) got the innings off to a good start.
However, in the run chase wickets started to fall regularly and the innings fell away, however the side did reach a total that enabled them to gain maximum batting points in a reduced overs game.
“After the disappointment of the result at Brockhampton it was vital we came back strongly against Dorridge and we did just that,” said Berkswell skipper Dominic Ostler.
“The win puts us back within touching distance of Shrewsbury at the top of the table. However, we must win our last two games and hope Shrewsbury slip up to have a realistic chance of winning the title, but we’ll keep challenging right to the end.”
SOLIHULL Municipal recorded a seven wicket success at Bablake in the Warwickshire Premier League on Saturday.
Bablake batted first and made steady progress against the new ball through Rob Arnold (59) and Mark Eames (27) before the introduction of Khalil Ahmed and James Roslyn saw runs dry up as they shared four wickets for 68 runs from their 24 overs.
Jason Pyott (24), Jack Manning (39) and Matt Payne (27) made starts but failed to make the big innings required as the innings closed on 220 for eight.
Mike Rowley (15) and George Gray (8) had departed by the ninth over to leave Municipal on 38 at the early stage of the reply, but the Bablake bowlers had to wait until the 25th over before separating Alex Roslyn (73 not out) and Nathan Boyce (65), with the latter being bowled by Tom Cowley.
Jon Stanley hit 54 not out, his highest score of the season, as he and Roslyn brought up the winning runs with no further alarm in the 41st over.
