Cricket
Droitwich are beaten at Hagley

A MISERABLE batting display saw Droitwich dismissed for a meagre 72 as they crashed to a 102-run defeat at Hagley in Worcestershire League Division One on Saturday.

Having put Hagley in, the bowlers did a good job in dismissing their hosts for 184, a total that Spa would have felt was within their range despite a slow outfield.

Too many batsmen went on to give their wickets away for the visitors though against some disciplined seam bowling from the newly promoted side.

Opening bowlers Amjad Ali (5-18) and Craig Bray (4-23) were the pick of the attack as only Max Young (19) and Jerome Connor (12) managed a double figure score as Spa were dismissed for just 72 in the 37th over.

It was a brighter story for Spa with the ball in their hand though as they picked up maximum bowling points off the final ball as Hagley were dismissed for 184.

Simon James (47) and Joe Lennon (43) put on 88 well constructed runs for the first wicket as Spa bowled tidily, but with no real threat.

However, the bowlers found a more challenging length in the second half of the innings as wickets started to tumble regularly.

Mike Rogers (3-33) and Karl Goddard (3-72) bowled effective second spells and once again Max Young (4-35) showed his all-round ability with four wickets at the end of the innings. There were also an encouraging spell from the lively Matthew Briggs.

Spa know they will need to see a vast improvement tomorrow when they host Redditch in their first home game of the season.

BELBROUGHTON finally got their Division Two campaign up and running at the third time of asking but it ended in disappointment as they lost by seven-wickets at Worcester Dominies and Guild.

Olly Hawker top scored with 41 as Belbroughton, who visit Wormelow tomorrow, made 153-6 after being put in but it did not prove enough with the hosts reaching 155-3 after 32 overs.

David King (2-59) and Chris Amundsen (1-63) took the wickets to fall.

CHADDESLEY Corbett struggled with the bat as they fell to a six-wicket Division Three defeat at Cookley.

Only David Chappel (29no), Nathan Glass (22) and Sam Boden (21) made it into double figures as Chaddesley were bowled out for 98 inside 34 overs.

Chappel (2-37) and David Perry (2-42) struck as Cookley replied but the hosts eased home at 99-4.

Chaddesley entertain Himbleton tomorrow.

AN UNBEATEN 61 from Jon Bird helped Avoncroft begin the Division Four season with a seven-wicket home victory against Barnards Green 3rds.

Bird hit eight fours and four sixes as he shared a fourth wicket stand of 102 with captain David James to help Avoncroft recover from 21-3 to 123-3 and victory in the 20th over.

Earlier, Daniel Elliott (3-8), David Charlton (2-18), Ben Warwick (2-29) and Adam Rodway (2-23) did the damage as the visitors were dismissed for 119.

Avoncroft will bid to build on their winning start when they travel to Hanley Castle tomorrow.

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