CRICKET: Saturday saw Hampton and Solihull CC face off in a local derby against Olton and West Warwickshire at Marsh Lane in the Warwickshire Premier League.
On a cold day, visiting captain Gary Hawkins won the toss and opted to bat first.
Hawkins led from the front as he and overseas player Michael Salerno put on 40 for the first wicket, before Ash Howard (1-53) picked up Salerno LBW.
Tariq Malakhel picked up a quick brace of wickets as he had Marc Webb caught and bowled for 1, before clean bowling Matt Bentley without scoring.
H&S turned to spin as Tim Keyte brought himself into the attack, immediately accounting for Phil Trilloe to reduce the visitors to 58-4.
Hawkins was joined by Michael Pickering.
The pair began a rebuilding process, until Hawkins fell caught behind off the bowling of Faisal Iqbal (1-32) for a patient 42.
Pickering found some support in Jamie Hawkins (13) before a brutal 35 off just 19 balls from Phillip Ceillam took Olton past the 150 mark.
Malakhel returned to dismiss both Ceillam and Pickering for a well-made 50, before a frustrating partnership of 40 for the last wicket saw Olton & WW bowled out for 214, a competitive total.
The H&S reply began disastrously as Mark James saw the first delivery of the innings from Trilloe (2-27) remove his off-stump, before a brace of wickets fell on 34 as Jamie Hawkins (2-34) removed Johangir Khan and Chris Hughes in the same over.
Dan Christopher (21) and Matt James (22) provided some temporary resistance, but wickets continued to fall as Salerno (2-30), and a wicket apiece for Kevin Crotty, Rob Collen, Gary Hawkins and Matt Bentley saw H&S eventually bowled out for 135.
Zain Siddiqui (34*) provided the only bright light for the home side.
Hampton and Solihull captain Tim Keyte said: “It was a tough result to take.
“We did some good work in the middle overs but that last wicket partnership meant they probably got 30 runs above par on that wicket.
“With the bat we didn’t do ourselves many favours with some cheap dismissals, and those who got in didn’t kick on and score the 70 or 80 which should be the bedrock of a chase like that.”
Next week H&S travel to Coventry to face Highway Spartans.
Pictures: Manjit Narotra
