MIKE Rogers was the hero at Himbleton as he hit a hundred before claiming some decisive Ross-on-Wye wickets to clinch his side victory last Saturday.
Himbelton struggled to get going at the Meadow Ground, with Harry Porter picking up three early wickets, before Rogers turned on the style.
Rogers finished on 122 not out as the hosts set their opponents 319 to win. Ross made a good start, but the bowling of Sam Jenkins and then Rodgers secured Himbleton a win by 122 runs.
Captain Jon Critchlow showed his ruthless side as he won the toss after his opponents arrived late and choose to bat first.
The Meadow Boys got off to a steady start as both Critchlow and Stu Dickenson found runs easy to come by off a lively opening attack.
However, Dickenson became the first of three quick wickets from Tom Parker, who also dispatched Ali Pretty and Critchlow to leave the home side 53-3.
Jenkins and the returning Ricky Pretty looked to bring some respectability back to the score as they dug in but when the pair went Himbleton were 115-5 off 23 overs.
This left the lower order the responsibility of bailing the top four out and, once again, they rose to the challenge. Martyn Preece and Rogers picked up the scoring rate and showed their experience as they looked to rotate the strike and scored regular singles.
Preece looked hard done by as he was adjusted LBW for 14 in the 29th over with the score on 134 but Luke Brace supported Rogers brilliantly by running hard and pushing singles to ensure his partner could receive the majority of the strike.
Rogers reached his 50 in a timely manner before going on to convert it into an excellent hundred, which was his first of the season.
Brace eventually fell victim to one of Parker’s infamous yorkers, but Jenkins came in and put on an extra 88 runs with Rogers, who was now in full flow.
Jenkins’ too joined in with the fun as he drove anything full with delightful timing to leave Ross with it all to do.
The away side responded well as James Tiffen and Porter were scoring at more than eight an over for the first six overs before Jenkins’ ball took the top of Porter’s off stump.
Critchlow brought Rogers into the attack to try and immediately rewarded his captain with the next wicket to put the visitors on the back foot at 70-2.
Despite the early blows, Ross appeared to be hanging on for an unflattering draw before Sean Jenkins bowled a five over spell which changed the game.
After bowling Parker, he then removed Tiffen (71) as Himbleton took control. Critchlow then brought back Sam Jenkins and Mike Rogers who effectively cleared up the lower order.
