Wardens struggle after losing crucial toss to Bromsgrove

Kenilworth Wardens Matt Hancock during his ECB Knockout bowling spell, which gleaned him figures of four for 37.

Tom Allin’s hard-hitting 45 led a battling lower order effort but in truth the visitors never recovered after slumping to 44 for five in bowler-friendly conditions.

However, Wardens will take some consolation from their steady bowling and fielding display, which forced the hosts to work extremely hard to reach their 169-run target with 29 balls and three wickets remaining.

Stand-in skipper Keith Bell fielded five players new to the club since the end of the difficult 2012 campaign, on a day when the Birmingham League experienced win/lose format matches for the first time in its 125-year history.

However, Charlie Hartley (3-43) and home skipper Mark Evenson (3-27) soon cut a swathe through the top order, in which only Scott Stenning (16) and Sitanshu Kotak (17) offered much by way of resistance.

Warwickshire all-rounder Allin struck six fours in his 55-ball knock, before last pair Ali Wilkinson (23) and Matt Hancock (20 not ou) added 48 precious runs in a fine rearguard effort which kept Wardens’ hopes alive despite being 30 runs short of a competitive score.

The early dismissal of Bromsgrove opener Ashley Newdick further enhanced the visitors’ prospects before Adam Gailey (52) and George Rhodes (51) took full advantage of an easing pitch, and a crucial dropped catch, to add 105 runs in a fine second-wicket partnership.

Four wickets for spin trio Hancock, Udit Talati and Kotak reduced the Boars’ chase to 146 for six but Jayden Levitt stood firm and it was his aggressive unbeaten 45-ball 48 that saw the hosts home in the 46th over.

Wardens came up marginally short in the ECB 40-over competition as Nick Seager’s half-century, plus four wickets from Matt Hancock failed to prevent a 19-run defeat at the hands of Premier Division side Walmley.

Fine spells from former Warwick School opening pair Ali Wilkinson (2-19) and Dan Wood (2-42) reduced the visitors to 80 for five before an excellent 85-run sixth-wicket alliance came to their rescue.

Andrew Hendry led the way, striking nine boundaries and two maximums in a well-constructed 95-ball 72, and he was ably supported by all-rounder Lewis Harrison (33).

Left-armer Hancock’s flight and occasional sharp spin was rewarded with four for 37 as Walmley closed on 193 for eight.

The hosts slipped to 21 for three against former Warwickshire trundler Mo Sheikh (3-21) and Aadil Bhayat (2-35), before Seager, whose 51 occupied 59 balls, and skipper Martin Donald (17) steadied the ship.

Useful contributions from Tom Brammer (21) and Dan Wood (24) kept home hopes alive but after both fell in quick succession, the tail was unable to reprise the previous day’s heroics as Wardens were dismissed for 174 in the 42nd over.

Harrison completed a fine individual display with two for 21, while Chris Whittock claimed a remarkable five catches in the field.