Cricket
Knockout Cup joy for Bromsgrove

ASH Newdick’s man of the match display helped Bromsgrove win the inaugural Sunday League Knockout Cup with a seven-wicket success over Droitwich at St Godwalds Park at the weekend.

Newdick, who also shone in the Birmingham League on Saturday (turn inside for more details), returned excellent figures of 4-21 as Droitwich batted first before contributing 34 to Bromsgrove’s reply.

On an excellent batting surface, Droitwich’s decision to bat first looked the right one initially as openers Jamie Boyle (15) and Jake Young (20) put on 40 for the first wicket.

But Ryan Pedley (3-18) and Newdick ensured they both fell without addition to the total and from that point the innings began to falter.

Wicket-keeper Stuart Bryan fell for 3 before Australian David Lane and Max Young (18) launched a counter-attack.

Young fell with the total on 92 and although Lane continue to hit the ball to all parts, he regularly lost partners at the other end.

James Ganderton (1-17), William Bowen (1-51) and Matt Banham (1-58) offered fine support to Newdick and Pedley as Spa fell for 169 in the 40th over with Lane’s 83 (53 balls, eight fours, four sixes) the obvious highlight.

Droitwich knew they were going to need early wickets in reply but came up against two in-form batsmen at the top of the innings in Newdick and Dan Naughton.

They put on 76 for the first wicket in no time before Martyn Davies (1-28) had Newdick (34 off 34 balls, five fours and one six) caught by Matthew Biggs.

Adam Gailey (5) fell soon afterwards to make it 85-2 but Tom Green (45no off 35 balls, five fours and one six) and Naughton (62 off 72 balls, nine fours) took Bromsgrove to 140.

Alex Milton (12no) joined Green to see Bromsgrove over the line at 170-3 in the 29th over as they went on to lift the trophy.

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