Monday 30 May 2004
Boundary Sports Warwickshire Premier League
Berkswell 133 for 0 (20pts) beat Southam 131 All Out (1pts) by 10 wickets
Berkswell’s 1st XI travelled to recently promoted Southam expecting to cement their position at the top of the Boundary Sports Warwickshire Premier League.
Skipper Dominic Ostler won the toss and invited Southam to bat first on what turned out to be a good batting wicket. Southam started in positive mood, scoring an encouraging 59 off the first 16 overs without loss, with opener Fletcher impressing with 56.
Southam’s innings capitulated once the opening partnership was broken by a trademark stunning close catch by Dutch International, Daan van Bunge. The catch gave spinner Paul Vickerstaff (4 for 42) the first of four wickets in a masterly unbroken spell of spin bowling and he enjoyed support in the form of tight bowling from Pat Milnes, plus excellent second spell by paceman Paul Thomas whom finished with 4 for 41.
After the interval, Berkswell set about some poor bowling with a spree of boundaries, with openers Mohammed Akhlaq (67 not out) and Freddie Klokker (60 not out) surpassing their opponents target in only 22 overs to secure an emphatice victory.
2nd Team Report
Berkswell 133 for 7 (20pts) beat Southam 129 All Out (4pts) by 3 wickets
Berkswell continued their run of good form with a three wicket home win over league newcomers Southam.
Asked to bat first Southam found it hard to make any progress against a Berkswell side showing six changes of personnel from Saturday’s match at Old Edwardians.
The visitors lost three early wickets to leg side catches with the batsmen unable to cope with the inswing bowling of Steve Edwards. Only Horley (31), who survived a dropped catch before he had scored, offered any resistance, and a late flurry of runs from tail ender Darby (20 no) enabled Southam to reach a total of 129 all out in the 46th over. Edwards returning figures of 7 for 41 and Craig Hancock 3 for 43 did the damage.
Berkswell were able to claim victory in the 37th over after a nervous few overs when wickets fell cheaply. However, David Blundell (27), Roger Beesley (35) and John Walsh (24no) were able to guide Berkswell to their fifth victory in a row and maintain their place at the top of the league. For Southam, Darby was the pick of their bowling attack ending with 5 for 35.
Berkswell’s 1st XI are aiming to defend their lead at the top of the Premier League today at home to Highway who travel all the way from distant Coventry.”
