Kenilworth collapse wastes Melville and Lowe’s hard work

Kenilworth suffered their first Warwickshire League defeat of the season after their tail folded in pursuit of Olton and West Warwicks’ 271 for five.

An unbeaten 108 from Nathan Docker, which included 12 fours and two sixes, plus a more reserved 75 from Gareth Simpson helped Olton to their imposing total.

Mitch Lowe took two wickets, but his 15 overs went for 97, while Tome Kane was only marginally less expensive (14-1-74-2).

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After Dave Edmunds had posted 34, the match looked well set as Lowe and Lee Melville put on 99 for the fifth wicket.

However, the loss of Melville for 50 hastened a collapse which saw the final five wickets fall for just nine runs.

Lowe was caught in the deep for 58 off Steve du Cros, who took four for 31, while Sunil Vyakaranam claimed four for 55 as Kenilworth were dismissed for 186.

Warwick gained a three-wicket victory over visitors Barby to remain third in Division One.

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After being put in to bat, Barby’s top order struggled in the face of fine bowling from James Wynn-Evans (4-27) and Paul Jackson (3-34).

Paul Rowe (2-42) and Steve Dyer (1-1) then completed the demolition to bundle Barby out for 119.

Warwick were immediately on the back foot at 17 for four.

However, a fifth-wicket partnership of 53 between Jamie Coleman (31) and Steve Smith (22) steadied the ship and it was left to Marc Passey (22 not out) and Richard Rudnicki to see Warwick to victory in the 42nd over.

Stockton’s in-form top order chased down Bronze’s challenging total of 233 to claim an encouraging five-wicket success.

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Ed Russell won his first toss of the season and decided to field but, after Owen Edwards picked up an early wicket, Bronze laid a solid platform.

Edwards had little luck, beating the bat regularly, while Vishaal Rathod saw two catches go down off him as James Bradin (63) and Brian Power (27) weathered the early storm.

Just as Bronze looked set, the introduction of young quick Jake Hooker (2-54) turned the game. He removed both batsmen in quick succession and was unlucky not to take more, but James Macey (75) and Atta Ul-Haq (39) rode their luck and kept the scoreboard ticking.

Joe Watt marked his first-ever senior bowl with a wicket to open up an end, enabling Stockton to dismiss Bronze for 233 in the final over.

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Stockton openers Michael Hughes and Bhavik Rathod set off at a typically electric pace and raced to 112 from just 15 overs.

Their partnership was finally broken when Hughes (49) fell with the score on 131 and soon after, Rathod was caught in the deep for 79.

Terry Cooper was joined by Edwards and they looked to be cruising to victory until the latter was bowled for 18.

At 164 for three, Bronze sniffed an opening but Cooper was his usual calm self, manipulating the ball into gaps to keep rotating the strike.

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Two wickets fell late on, but Andy Ward (10 not out) was there at the end with Cooper, who finished unbeaten on 52.

Hunningham held their nerve to claim a winning draw against RMCC in their Division Four clash.

The hosts looked well-set after posting 281 for eight from their 50 overs, with Charles Wale (86), Lewis Mundy (56) and Marcus Mundy (43) all making sizeable contributions.

However, RMCC came into the last over requiring 12 to win with three wickets in hand.

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Marcus Mundy’s first delivery was a no ball and singles were scored off each of the next three balls, with a a run-out off the third further increasing the tension.

A boundary off the next ball left the match in the balance, but Mundy gave away just a single off his final two deliveries to leave RMCC on 276 for eight.

Leamington Khalsa got back to winning ways with a tense one-wicket victory over Coventry-based West Indian Wanderers.

An improved fielding performance from Khalsa ensured Wanderers lost wickets at regular intervals, with Ashu Sharma and Indy Kalsi taking five middle-order scalps between them to restrict their opponents to 200 off 48 overs.

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Tazik Shama scored a fluent 46 for Khalsa but his dismissal sparked a collapse from 79 for one to 131 for seven.

Kalsi came in at number eight and steadied the ship with assistance from his young lower order.

Monopolising the strike, the Khalsa skipper scored an unbeaten 65 to steer his side to victory, with the match-winning four coming off the first ball of the final over.

Warwick 2nds slipped to an agonising ten-run defeat at Sheldon Marlborough in the 2nd XI Premier Division.

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Warwick claimed a couple of early wickets but a steady knock from Mark Benbow (65) and late-order runs from Muhammad Baig (28 not out) enabled Sheldon to post a total of 188 for seven from their 50 overs.

Jagdeep Khurana (4-53) was the pick of the Warwick attack.

In reply, Warwick slumped to 20

for four in the face of fine bowling from Mohammed Adeel (6-42).

Dan Robbins (29) and Steve Dellow (33) steadied the ship and Jorge Singh (31) and Rajan Bhatti (12) took Warwick closer to the total.

However, Jagdeep Khurana (22 not out) ran out of partners with Warwick on 178.

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Stockton’s second string continued their impressive form with a five-wicket win against Bronze, largely thanks to a fine innings by Joe French.

Set a target of 255, Stockton lost early wickets and looked out of the game before a crucial partnership between Cole (44) and French.

Mark Rowland (56) provided some powerful blows before being dismissed late on, but French saw Stockton home with an unbeaten 70.

Kenilworth Town 2nds suffered a last-over defeat in Division Two.

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The Town posted 218 for seven with Mark Stranks top-scoring with a fine 88. Stuart Dalrymple added 53 and youngster Pat Howard was unbeaten on 38.

Questionable umpiring decisions aided the Rugby cause but Ali batted superbly for a match-winning 79 not out after Amrinder had made 30 and Niaz 33.

They reached their target for the loss of six wickets despite the best efforts of Tom Pope (2-40) and veteran Ali Peebles (2-58).

Joseph Maskell took five for 34 as Hunningham 2nds eased to a seven-wicket win over Nether Whitacre.

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Maskell’s five-wicket haul helped dismiss Nether for 95 and Hunningham knocked off the runs inside 24 overs, with Jake Hills scoring 43 and Alan Staniforth adding 22.

Khalsa 2nds cruised to a 68-run victory over West Indian Wanderers 2nds in their Division Four game at Lighthorne.

Having won the toss, Khalsa set a challenging 195 on a slow track thanks to a sensible partnership between Mick Gill (47) and Dally Mann (44).

Khalsa opening bowlers Hardip Jheeta and debutant Raman Hayer then ripped through the Wanderers line-up, leaving them reeling on 29 for six after nine overs.

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Khalsa took their foot off the gas and allowed Wanderers’ final pair to add 90 runs before Jheeta (3-10) and Raman (3-12) returned to finish off the innnings.

Warwick 3rds recorded a resounding 163-run victory over Newdigate at the unfamiliar surrounds of Myton School.

After being put into bat, Warwick were bowled out for 252. Mark Vipond (69) led the way and was ably assisted by Reetesh Vishwanath (39), Adam Edwards (23) and Baz Malik (23).

Newdigate were then bowled out for just 89 inside 24 overs with skipper Tom Austin taking six for 29.