Leamington Spa 175-9 Stratford 94 all out

FORMER Warwickshire all-rounder Neil Smith delivered a match-winning performance to give Leamington an 81-run victory over Stratford on Saturday, writes Mick Clewes.

The ex-Bear top scored for his side with a belligerent 43 batting at No.9 before taking five Stratford wickets for just 19 runs with his off-spin. The victory gave Spa the double over their South Warwickshire neighbours this season.

But it could have been a much different story after Stratford won the toss and inserted their visitors on a wicket affected by rain over the previous couple of days which had found its way under the Swans Nest Lane covers. The Panthers’ seamers wrecked the Spa top order and reduced them to 31 for five.

But the late middle order staged a recovery which eventually set the inconsistent Stratford batting line-up a total that was always going to be a challenge. Spa skipper Rob Williams began the rebuilding process with a typical gutsy 36 before he fell victim to the very first ball from his Stratford counterpart Paul Best.

Spa also had the services of the experienced Faisal Irfan, who was undefeated on 35 at the closure of the innings having played the anchor role when the big-hitting Smith arrived at the crease. Smith soon made his intentions clear and survived a few half-chances before Best dropped him off a routine skier at mid-off. Best eventually got his revenge when he enticed Smith down the pitch with his left-arm spin and stand-in wicketkeeper Alex Fisher completed the stumping.

Best finished with two for 47, Wigsy Troughton two for 32 and their was a wicket apiece for Junead Zaman, Tom Grundy and David Lamb.

Stratford openers David Lamb and David Black got the reply off to a steady start until the latter drove one back into opening bowler Irfan’s safe grasp. Lamb dug in and hung around for several overs before Irfan trapped him lbw for seven.

The introduction of Smith began the collapse when he clean bowled joint top scorer Matt Corby for 24. He then ripped out Sam Neale (2), Zaman (1) and Malkin (1) in quick succession as Stratford slumped to 70 for six. When young leg-spinner Dexter Purser dismissed Best for 24 the rest of the tail fell away and Stratford were all out for 94 in 48.1 overs.

Purser finished with two for 25, Irfan three for 18 with Smith’s match-winning five for 19 off 15.1 overs the pick of the attack.

Leamington: Phillips run out (Zaman) 4, Hopkins b Zaman 8, Bailey c Best b Troughton 9, Magill c Best b Lamb 1, J Williams b Troughton 0, Goatley c Malkin b T Grundy 15, R Williams c Lamb b Best 36, Irfan not out 35, Smith st Fisher b Best 43, Purser run out (Troughton) 12, De Silva not out 0, extras 12.

Total (55 overs): 175 for nine.

Bowling: Zaman 7-0-18-1; T Grundy 14-4-33-1; Troughton 10-2-32-2; Lamb 7-4-11-1; Best 11-2-47-2; Grundy 6-0-26-0.

Stratford: Lamb lbw Irfan 7, Black c&b Irfan 11, Corby b Smith 24, Best c Bailey b Purser 24, Neale b Smith 2, Zaman st Phillips b Smith 1, Malkin b Smith 1, Troughton b Irfan 7, Fisher lbw Purser 0, T Grundy lbw Smith 3, J Grundy not out 1, extras 13.

Total (48.1 overs): 94 all out.

Bowling: Irfan 12-3-18-3; De Silva 9-0-28-0; Smith 15.1-4-19-5; Purser 12-1-25-2.

Stratford 210-8 Halesowen 177-8

ONBank Holiday Monday, Stratford earned a ‘winning’ draw against Halesowen—the second visitors to Swans Nest Lane in three days.

The Worcestershiremen, currently lying bottom of the table, won the toss and asked Stratford to bat first.

It looked a good call as the Panthers slumped to 71 for five but a stand of 108 for the sixth wicket between Sam Neale (67) and Paul Malkin (78) more than steadied the ship for Paul Best’s men and they went on to make 210 for eight from their 55 overs.

Halesowen made steady progress towards their target, the lynchpin of their innings being Mohammed Ishtiaq who was undefeated on 80 at the close of play.

However, Stratford’s bowlers performed well and took wickets at regular intervals and when two visiting batsmen fell in two balls to make the score 115 for six, Halesowen had no other option but to shut up shop.

They finally made 177 from their 55 overs—34 runs short of Stratford’s total.

The Panthers earned 14 points from the match and Halesowen 8.

This Saturday, Stratford travel to Binley Road to play Coventry & North Warwickshire in a ‘winner takes all’ relegation dogfight. Both sides are locked on 145 points, one place and two places respectively off the foot of the table.

Stratford: Lamb c Ishtiaq b Tempro 9, Black lbw Ishtiaq 31, Corby c Tromans b Tempro 3, Best b Tempro 0, Neale c Patel b Roberts 67, Zaman lbw Ishtiaq 0, Malkin run out 78, Troughton run out 10, TGrundy not out 0, extras 12.

Total (55 overs): 210 for eight.

Bowling: Ishtiaq 17-4-45-2, Tempro 7-0-34-3, Warnapura 14-0-52-0, Roberts 11-1-46-1, Croft 6-0-26-0.

Halesowen: Warnapura c Neale b TGrundy 17, Ishtiaq not out 80, Mahmood lbw TGrundy 6, Malik c Black b Troughton 8, Griffiths b Lamb 19, Quami c Corby b JGrundy 9, Croft b J Grundy 0, Tromans c&b Best 4, Roberts c Joseph b JGrundy 8, Patel not out 15, extras 11.

Total (55 overs) 177 for eight.

Bowling: Zaman 6-0-29-0, TGrundy 8-2-25-2, Troughton 8-1-19-1, Lamb 10-1-26-1, Best 16-2-51-1, JGrundy 7-0-22-3.

Posted at 10am on 2nd September