Spa struggle as Pedmore take full advantage (From Bromsgrove Advertiser)

Spa struggle as Pedmore take full advantage

3:42pm Wednesday 4th July 2012 in Sport

DROITWICH Spa CC's recent erratic form continued as they crashed to a humiliating eight- wicket defeat away at Pedmore in Worcester County League Division One.

Spa were inserted on a green wicket offering extravagant seam movement to the home side's opening pair of Asif Iqbal and Dave Skelding.

In such favourable bowling conditions, Droitwich had done well to reach 29 for the loss of just one batsman, but when the returning Jerome Connor was caught behind wickets started to tumble.

Stuart Bryan looked in good touch for 18, but whe2n he fell to the impressive Iqbal for 18 only the Young brothers; Max with 10 and Jake with 12 reached double figures.

The change bowlers Richard Musk and Chris Bourne kept the pressure on and the left arm Bourne finished the innings off with a hat trick as Spa's innings ended tamely in the 28th over for a paltry 75.

Spa needed early wickets but were met with an aggressive batting display as Pedmore raced to their target in 13 overs for the loss of just two wickets.

None of the Droitwich bowlers could find the required line and length to accompany a still helpful bowling pitch as Skelding followed up his two wickets with the ball, with a quickfire 36 not out.

Droitwich start the second half of the season against bottom placed Worcester and will be hoping to find a more consistent spell of form to challenge at the top of the table.

Chaddesley Corbett slipped to the bottom of Division Three after losing by six wickets to Harborne.

Put into bay by their opponents from Birmingham, Corbett’s bowlers failed to provide any resistance and were dismissed for 85 in 41 overs, with only Sam Boden (30) and Rob Hirons (14) getting into double figures. Rohit Verma was the dangerman for Harborne with four wickets from 23 runs in 12 overs.

Corbett’s bowlers took wickets at regular intervals but they struggled to remove Harborne’s batting order in time.

Chris Mole had Dave Rankin caught by Cole O’Connor for 11, Iqbal Kasana (6) was ran out by Mole as Harborne slumped to 36-2.

But Darren Franklin (24), Nick Frith (19) and Baldev Raj (19no) took the game away as Harborne made 89-4 in reply.

Meanwhile, Avoncroft’s Division Four clash against Ross-on-Wye was abandoned because of the wet weather.

Saturday fixtures – Worcestershire County Cricket League Division One 1st XI: Droitwich v Worcester.

Division One 2nd XI: Bewdley v Droitwich.

Division Three 1st XI: Chaddesley Corbett v Kidderminster.

Division Three 2nd XI: Kidderminster v Chaddesley Corbett.

Division Four 1st XI: Bromsgrove v Martley; Barnards Green v Avoncroft.

Division Four 2nd XI: Avoncroft v Barnards Green; Old Vigornians Vine v Barnt Green; Amblecote & Wollaston v Bromsgrove.

Division Five 1st XI: Barnt Green v West Malvern.

Division Six: Knighton on Teme v Cutnall Green.

Division Eight: Droitwich Spa v Malvern.

Division Nine: Bredon v Chaddesley Corbett. All matches 1.30pm start.