CRICKET: YOUNGSTER Josh Baker produced a match-winning performance to help Astwood Bank defeat Attock in Division One 2nd XI of the Birmingham League.
The 13-year-old spinner claimed four wickets to stifle Birmingham-based Attock’s victory charge as Bank won by seven runs.
Bank batted first after being put in on a damp, green seamer-friendly looking wicket and were dismissed for 180 in the 44th over.
David Sewell went for 16 when he tried to attack the Attock bowlers once too often and Dave Price played beautifully until falling for 32, LBW for the fourth consecutive match. Pete Alexander went next for 20 when, once again, Ahmed Nisar’s well-disguised inswinger proved just too good. Andy Alexander upped the pace as Astwood battled the conditions and an excellent Attock bowling attack. Wickets continued to fall until Paul Daws joined Alexander with the score on 149-6 with eight overs remaining.
Alexander perished for a fine 40 that included some hefty blows over the rope and Daws was enterprising in his short innings of 22.
Nisar was the pick of Attock’s bowlers, with figures of 9-2-25-2.
Aware of the threat of rain, Attock began positively and reached 113-0 from 15 overs but then Baker turned the match on its head.
In his first over he removed Ali for 50 and then trapped Haroon Mohammed first ball. Sultan Mahmood continued the Attock attack until Baker snared him LBW for a majestic 84 giving Astwood Bank a sniff.
Tom Shepherd’s second spell produced three wickets and Attock were left needing nine runs with two wickets remaining.
Richardson then returned and removed the last two wickets to give Astwood Bank an unlikely win by just 7 runs.
Shepherd finished with 5-1-40-3 and Baker the pick as he finished with impressive figures of 9-3-17-4.
Bank 3rds’ match against Five Ways Old Edwardians 1st Xl was abandoned due to rain. Five Ways hit 216-5 off their 50 overs, but play was halted with Bank 37-2 off seven overs.
The Fourths’ game at top of the table Himbleton was also ruined by rain. Himbleton smacked 256 for nine but the Astwood Bank innings only last seven overs, reaching 43-0.
Bank 5ths remain top of Division Seven in the Cotswold hills league despite losing to Warwick County Council staff 2nds on Saturday.
An injury-hit team of ten hit 53 off 33 overs on a slow wicket with uneven bounce and though WCCC were on the ropes at 25-3 they won by six wickets. Nick Robinson finished with excellent figures of 7-1-17-4.
On Saturday, the 2nds face Wellington away, the 3rds visit Claverley and the 4ths meet Malvern at Hanbury.