Century stand lays platform for Kotak heroics

But the Indian left-armer, who in the process took his season’s tally to 39 wickets, was the first to acknowledge equally crucial batting contributions from Tom Allin and Tony Wilkinson.

When paceman Junaid Khan’s six for 43 reduced Wardens to 120 for seven, the home side looked to have both hands on the 20 points. However, the battling eighth-wicket pair added 110 crucial runs to see their team to the prosperity of 250 for eight.

Warwickshire seamer Allin counter-attacked in style, hitting nine fours and a six in his 57-ball 65, while Wilkinson’s more measured approach brought an unbeaten 62 from 102 balls.

In response, Attock’s opening pair of Mohammed Qamar Khan (69) and Waqar Saleem (83) wrested the initiative back with a superb 130-run partnership.

Although Kotak eventually broke the stand immediately after the mid-innings drinks with a fortuitous lbw decision, the hosts still seemed likely winners at 193 for four with 12 overs remaining and the experienced Sultan Mahmood at the crease.

But once Kotak found bounce and spin to dismiss the powerful right-hander, the remaining batsman lacked the technique and temperament to combat the wiles of the Indian ace and fellow left-armer Dan Vernon, whose useful second spell brought him final figures of 3-57.

Veteran all-rounder Paul Henderson rolled back the years with a vintage display that took Wardens 2nds to an exciting 12-run Birmingham League Division Two South win against Barnards Green.

Henderson’s 82, made from 102 balls with 13 fours and two sixes, enabled the home side to recover from the depths of 96 for seven to a competitive 192 for eight.

He shared a vital eighth-wicket partnership of 78 with Jack Vickery, who struck three boundaries in his unbeaten 21, after Wardens’ top order made little impression against the accuracy of Ryan Scullion (3-46) and brother James (3-44).

After Nick Whiting and Andy Fox reduced the visitors to 79 for five, useful contributions from Ryan Scullion (36), James Scullion and Tom Clack (both 19) took the visitors within range. However, Henderson’s swing then claimed two crucial wickets and, with Liam Newton also grabbing a brace, Wardens edged home by a 12-run margin with nine balls in hand.

In the Cotswold Hills League Division Four, teenage leg-spinner Tom Ballinger grabbed four wickets as Wardens 3rds skittled Alcester & Ragley 2nds for a paltry 61 before cruising to the easiest of ten-wicket wins.

Ballinger, who returned four for four from four overs, found bounce and turn from a wet pitch to send a loud message to Wardens’ selection committee.

Skipper Simon Gough (2-13), left-armer Joe Melly (2-10) and Brad Sanders (2-11) all applied good pressure to Alcester’s batting after two early dropped catches had allowed home skipper Dave Swinburn (22) and opening partner Mike Bennett (10) to reach 30.

In reply, Tom Brammer (39 not out) took a positive approach in partnership with Paul Smith, easing the visitors to victory in the 13th over.