Positive result against Tamworth is crucial says Boars captain Evenson - The Bromsgrove Standard

Positive result against Tamworth is crucial says Boars captain Evenson

Bromsgrove Editorial 18th Jul, 2019   0

BOARS captain Mark Evenson says that his side will be dragged back into the mire if they fail to claim a positive result at Tamworth on Saturday (noon), following a six-wicket defeat to Himley last weekend.

The defeat was a tough one to take for Bromsgrove, after their inspired start at the crease eventually diminished to a 190 total, with Himley having 62 overs to seek victory.

With Worcestershire bowler Oliver Westbury in their ranks, the visitors condemned Bromsgrove to their seventh defeat of the season in Birmingham & District Premier Division Two, and further ensured that the Boars remain without consecutive victories in the league all season.

Evenson now feels a victory or a winning draw is of vital importance against second-bottom Tamworth in order to stave off any relegation threat.




“With a points difference of 34, a positive result could take the gap to over 50 this weekend,” he said.

“But if we don’t, then we’re dragged back into it.


“If you can’t beat the sides around the bottom of the league, then you’re in trouble.”

Batting first, the hosts lost Alistair Hickman (0) from the third ball faced but followed up with a partnership of 98 between Jayden Levitt (54) and Ashley Newfield (45).

Levitt’s dismissal for the second wicket for lbw prompted a steady downfall of the Bromsgrove batting order.

Alex Milton (15) and Ryan Pedley (2) both had short stints at the crease, while Newfield battled on until the fifth wicket, where he was caught by Westbury from a Jamie Turner delivery (4-58) at 124-5.

Deon Patel was next to go after another short stint (3), although Tom Hill (31) managed to put together a stand of 46 with Evenson (17) before falling at 177-8.

Two balls later, Evenson was also dismissed, while Tom Russell (0) and Gareth Williams (9) battled on to 190, when the former was dismissed to end the innings.

In reply, Himley’s Greg Wright (33) and Westbury (76) put together a stand of 49 for the first wicket, with Levitt catching the former from a Williams (2-28) delivery, while the bowler then trapped Callum Lea (5) lbw.

Nipun Karunanayake (7) was bowled by Wilkinson (2-42) at 68-3, before Westbury and Daniel Durman (41no) hit 89 between them to put a dent in Bromsgrove’s hopes of a victory.

Chris Boroughs (26no) stepped in at number six after Wilkinson dismissed Westbury lbw to find the runs required for victory.

The Boars captain believes it could have been a different story had Bromsgrove dealt with the change in the Himley bowling ranks better.

“We had moments where we were massively on top,” said Evenson.

“It was a difficult wicket to bat on, but we raced to 98 after the first wicket from the first 17 overs – at that stage we were thinking of a big score.

“The change of bowlers changed the game for us, we were able to wrestle it back through myself and Tom (Hill), but we fell well short with 190.”

Evenson confirms that a change in the middle order will present an opportunity to Jack Taylor from the Boars’ second XI, replacing Pedley, ahead of this weekend’s trip to Tamworth.

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