Rain arrives just in time to get Division
Two leaders Spa out of a tight spot

After a delayed start, Worcester visitors OEs asked Leamington to bat first on an Arlington Avenue wicket offering help to seamers.

OEs used the conditions well as Damon Gariff removed openers Shahbaaz Alam and Jon Wigley, who have been in imperious form of late.

Mark Lewis followed to Liam Booth and change bowler Liam Selvey accounted for captain Dave Bailey, Mark Ashcroft and Lee Hopkins in a testing spell.

There were three catches for lively stumper Johann Smit before the rain returned with a vengeance and the match was abandoned with Leamington on 69 for six in the 25th over.

Despite the minor setback, Leamington remain at the head of the table, 37 points clear of Penkridge.

Leamington’s second string made the trip to Harborne in driving rain and were somewhat surprised to arrive at the Birmingham side to find conditions quite playable.

Batting first, Leamington made a poor start with Jim Gethins and last week’s centurion Steve Dyer falling to Simon Bird, the first of four wickets for Harborne’s opening bowler.

The returning Dave Hawkes steadied the ship before becoming Bird’s third victim for 19, soon followed by son and captain Jack for a duck.

Manpreet Gill had settled in, however, and was unbeaten on 22 when the inevitable happened and the ensuing deluge led to the game being abandoned with Leamington on 76 for five in the 24th over.

Leamington 3rds lost out to Bretferton on run rate after an exciting low-scoring Cotswold Hills League encounter.

Batting first on a slow wicket, Leamington made slow progress and at drinks were 50 for two.

At 66 for four with the quick departures of Lord (20) and Matthew Dale (16) impetus was needed in order to set any sort of total.

This was provided from Joe Somra (27) and Mackrill (29) who took the score up to a respectable 148, a total which would prove difficult to chase.

Opening bowlers Will Field and Khalid made early inroads into the Bretferton innings with Field taking two wickets and Khalid one.

Berry launched a counter attack before he was dismissed lbw by Khalid but the Bretferton middle order of Jones and Cafero looked to end the contest in a hurry with some lusty blows.

However, the introduction of Lord and Khan yielded two wickets apiece and reduced Bretferton to 110 for eight.

The ever-threatening rain finally arrived to wipe out ten overs of play and, when the match resumed, the hosts were left the formality of chasing a reduced total of 112.

A rather unjust end to the game but it sets up an interesting return fixture at Arlington Avenue tomorrow.