League match
Ansley Sports 253 for 9 in 50 overs (Rizwan 12-0-57-3, Kasim Abbas 11-1-72-1, Adnan Ali 10-0-55-3, Josh Williams 13-4-42-1, Matt Wright 4-1-16-1) FOW: 45 57 88 91 138 191 192 200 241
Kings Heath 216 for 8 in 50 overs Jeff Webb ct midwicket 21 Rizwan bowled 61 Aaron Oliver bowled 11 Jon Clugston ct keeper 19 Tom Salliss bowled 30 Paul Spinks bowled 32 Adnan Ali ct mid on 16 Matt Wright bowled 5 Kasim Abbas 5 not out Gregg Arrand 0 not out Did not bat: Josh Williams FOW: 55 83 110 123 179 200 210 212
MATCH DRAWN
This match saw the five players return to the ranks having missed out on the last match due to unavailability. Aaron Oliver, Jon Clugston and Tom Salliss returned to the middle order, the latter selected after an unbeaten 48 against Moseley for the 3rd XI the previous week. Matt Wright and Kasim Abbas returned to strengthen the seam bowling. The second ball of the match, bowled by Rizwan was full on leg stump and was casually flicked for six. The new ball was lost in the hedge of the gardens lining the boundary for nearly 15 overs, as Ansley Sports progressed serenely to 45 without loss, as the replacement ball did not offer any swing. Kasim provided a medium pace option, but struggled in his first long bowling spell of the season and conceded 72 runs in his 11 overs. The return of the original ball led to several wickets as Ansley collapsed to 138 for 5. The progressed to 191 for 5 but soon fell to 200 for 8 thanks to Adnan and Rizwan collecting three wickets apiece. Ansley closed their innings on an imposing 253 for 9. The reply started with the Ansley captain opening the bowling with canny off spin, and soon got opener Jeff Webb to play a false shot, and a loud appeal for a catch behind followed. However although there was a noise, he was given not out, much to the chagrin of the Ansley side. However their dissatisfaction did not last long as Jeff was soon caught low down at midwicket for 21 and had contributed to an opening stand of 55. Meanwhile Rizwan had been playing aggressively, lofting the Ansley bowlers for numerous boundaries before he was bowled for 61. Aaron was bowled for just 11 and left hander Jon Clugston was caught by the keeper for 19. Kings Heath were 123 for 4 but a slow 56 run partnership between Tom Salliss (30) and Paul Spinks (32) calmed the nerves. A collapse to 212 for 8 with two overs to go gave Ansley Sports a whiff of victory, but Kasim (4*) and Gregg (0*) closed down their hopes by successfully surviving the final overs. Kings Heath achieved maximum batting and bowling points in a satisfactory game.
