1st inns Aston Manor 154 all out in 34.5 overs (Aman Khan 5.5-0-28-3, Nabeel Ahmed 7-1-23-2, Rizwan 9-0-25-1, Sean Brown 4-0-28-0, Jag Patel 3-0-24-0, Joe Hawkins 6-0-22-4)
2nd inns Kings Heath 155 for 5 in 36.0 overs Jag Patel lbw 0 (3 balls) Joe Hawkins bowled 0 (1 ball) Bernard O'Connor stumped 52 (100 balls, 10 x 4s) Adam Badger caught 28 (42 balls, 4 x 4s) Rizwan lbw 6 (17 balls, 1 x 4s) Aman Khan 31 not out (32 balls, 5 x 4s) Gregg Arrand 24 not out (25 balls, 4 x 4s) Did not bat: Sean Brown, Masood Khan, Nabeel Ahmed, Graham Arrand FOW: 0-1 0-2 50-3 71-4 113-5
KINGS HEATH WON BY 5 WICKETS
Aston Manor batted first and their number four batsman Nathan Woakes (relative of Warwickshire cricketer Chris) dispatched the Kings Heath bowlers to all parts of Holders Lane. At one stage all nine fielders were on the boundary, but he was not discouraged and still continued to swing from the hip - Jag Patel and young Sean Brown had been effectively and expensively dismantled. The introduction of Joe Hawkins into the attack from the City End brought some respite. Hawkins delivered a ball which bounced a little more than the batter had expected, and Woakes played inside the line to let the ball pass harmlessly by. A well placed comment to the batsman from Kings Heath captain and wicket keeper Graham Arrand, mentioning that no matter how many runs you’ve scored, you’re never truly ‘in’ on a pitch with such variable bounce, resulted in the batsman looking worried and prodding the pitch with nervous apprehension. The next ball was on an identical length, but slightly closer to the body, which resulted in an edge and a catch behind. Hawkins finished with four wickets for only 22 runs, as Aston Manor were bowled out for 154 in under 35 overs. Kings Heath chase got off to the worst possible start with both Kings Heath openers Jag and Hawkins out without scoring - both succumbing to full straight deliveries. The recovery from 0 for 2 came from a calm, steady partnership of exactly 50 between Bernard O’Connor and Adam Badger (28). Bernard continued on to make a composed 52 including ten boundaries, his first fifty for the Saturday 3rd XI. There was a late wobble to 113 for 5, but Aman Khan (31*) and Gregg Arrand (24*) put on 42 in seven overs to take Kings Heath past the finish line in an eventually clinical victory.
