Cricket
Bromsgrove skipper praises Tratt’s contribution

BROMSGROVE CC captain Mark Evenson was full of praise for the in-form Joel Tratt after his unbeaten 50 helped secure a Birmingham League Division One winning draw at Old Hill on Saturday.

Tratt’s 50 came off just 36 balls and included two fours and four sixes to help Bromsgrove to 182ao in a contest that was reduced to 27 overs per side.

“Without Joel’s innings we would have lost the game to be honest with you,” Evenson said.

“Conditions were not great and ideally we would have won the toss and not batted first.

“We set off hoping for about 120 or 130, so to get to 182 was a fine effort.”

Adam Gailey made a welcome return to form with 44 off 46 balls (two fours, three sixes) whilst Alexei Kervezee (20) and George Rhodes (21) also made solid contributions.

Nigel Davenport proved to be the biggest threat to Bromsgrove with the ball, taking 6-25 from 8.5 overs.

Old Hill’s reply was led by skipper and opener Danny Cox who finished unbeaten on 72 (77 balls, five fours and two sixes) to guide his side to 144-5.

Tom Underhill (2-17), Evenson (2-45) and James Ganderton (1-25) shared the wickets to fall.

“It is hard to bowl somebody out in 55 overs, let alone 27,” Evenson said.

“The big wicket would have been the one of Cox, if we could have got him early then who knows, but he played well and ensured his side avoided defeat.

“It was pleasing to pick up the lion’s share of the points on a difficult afternoon weather wise and it keeps us moving in the right direction.”

The result saw Bromsgrove climb to the top of the early season table, and with the prospect of finally being able to play at home tomorrow, when Walmley are the visitors, Evenson said he was pleased with how the season has started.

“Things are going well at the moment and we need to try and keep it that way,” he said.

“Results like Saturday’s can prove vital come the end of the season when you get a decent points return when some other sides are frustrated by the weather.

“We can’t control the weather but we can control what happens on the field when we get out there and we are doing that well at the moment.

“The guys are putting their hands up and taking responsibility and hopefully that will continue when we finally get to take to the middle at St Godwalds Park on Saturday.”

OMBERSLEY almost forced a Division One victory at home against Dorridge on Saturday but had to settle for a winning draw.

Having been put in, Ombersley made 157-6 from their 42 overs thanks to contributions from Brett D’Oliveira (43), Ted Baylis (39no), Liam Gwynne (31) and Marcus D’Oliveira (30).

Dorridge started brightly enough in reply with Jonathan Webb (26), Valeed Butt (36) and Kasir Shah (33) making useful runs but they were the only batsmen to reach double figures.

Baylis (4-47), Brett D’Oliveira (2-26), Duncan Catterall (1-32) and Neil Slade (1-9) reduced them to 124-9 but they could not force the final wicket to secure victory.

Ombersley travel to second placed Wombourne tomorrow.

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