Wardens quickly go downhill against Old Hill

On a worn pitch unsuited to aggressive strokeplay only Sitanshu Kotak, who finished with an unbeaten half-century, showed the required application for Wardens.

Coupled with an accurate spell from Davenport, who finished with five for 31 from 13.5 overs, this disappointing effort saw the home side packed off for 123 in only 42.5 overs in response to their visitors’ 195 for five.

Old Hill’s opening pair, Mike Hingley (46) and Danny Cox (56), made steady progress against a seven-man home attack, before falling to Kotak in quick succession shortly after posting the 100.

Nitesh Patel (34) and Davenport (25) added 48 for the visitors’ fourth wicket, but despite having wickets in hand, Old Hill never broke the shackles imposed by Kotak (3-53) and fellow slow left-armer Dan Vernon (1-51), who both bowled tight 17-over spells.

After Keith Bell fell to the first ball of the home response, Martin Donald (26) and Stenning (20) both got starts without going on to play the long innings the situation demanded. Nonetheless, with Kotak well set and the score at 64 for two, few predicted the collapse that followed.

Ashfak Hussain (3-42) set the ball rolling, by dismissing in-form duo Andy Whitehall and Richard Bush cheaply, before Davenport skittled the tail, of whom only Dan Wood managed to get off the mark.

Wardens lost their last eight wickets for 59 to leave Kotak unbeaten on 52.

All-rounder Anthony Wilkinson made an impressive return after a lengthy injury lay-off, but even his efforts were unable to prevent Barnt Green extending their already substantial lead at the head of the Division Two South table with a comfortable four-wicket win over Wardens 2nds.

Wilkinson stroked six boundaries and two sixes in his impressive unbeaten 86, adding 73 for the fourth wicket with James Ray (36), which enabled the visitors to post 205 for six in their 50 overs.

Wardens’ seamers struggled to control the hosts’ early run rate and, although Wilkinson’s accurate off-spin returned three for 58, England under-14 star Matthew Lamb (85) dominated the Barnt Green reply.

Lamb added 74 with keeper Matt Powell (41 not out) for the sixth wicket before falling to the persevering Andy Fox (2-42) with the scores level.

The hosts, who duly finished the job with five overs remaining, look certainties to claim the title even at this early juncture.

A fine hundred from Water Orton skipper Gary Crouch saw Wardens slip to a four-wicket defeat in the Warwickshire Sunday League.

Crouch struck 15 fours and three sixes in his 84-ball knock to steer the home side past Wardens’ 40-over total of 167 for eight.

Before tea, an equally fine knock from Sam Wood dominated the visitors’ innings.

His even-time 86, which featured eight fours and two sixes, dragged the visitors from the depths of 109 for seven to their final total of 168 for eight, adding 50 for the eighth wicket with 13-year-old Luke Moreau.