BEDWORTH LEAPFROG THE FIRSTS
The day dawned wet and very grey, the prospects of play for this eagerly awaited match looked bleak. However, the skies lifted at 1.15, and a prompt start was made. Southam won the toss and batted first, reaching 60-0 after only 12 overs. Matt Goatley was in sparkling form, hitting a boundary laden 48 ,before veteren seamer Heath Parnell found a way through his defences. From that point, Parnell completely dominated proceedings, bowling with admiral accuracy and superb control of length. Only skipper Dave Hawkes could master him hitting a fluent 48, before finally being last man out at 158-10. Parnell rewarded with 8-39.
Bedworth had 60 overs to achieve the target, but soon lost the wicket of Higgens for 0 to Waters. No.3 Friswell looked in ominous form from the off and although Bedworth lost Camwell to first change bowler Clements, they progressed quickly through Friswell and youngster Hirons. They built a match winning partnership, and although wickets fell as Southam rang the bowling changes, victory was achieved with 4 wickets in hand. Hirons 72*. Friswell 47.
As a result, Bedworth leapfrogged into 2nd place, with only 7 points separating top and 4th.
SECONDS STRUGGLING FOR FORM
Southam 2nds could only manage a losing draw at Bedworth. The home side’s openers Iles (46) and Bahayat (28) made a good start, putting on 70 for the first wicket, Adam Heath taking his second wicket a few balls later. The middle order made hay though, and Chand 54, Isles 31 and Maxwell 32 all hit the ball well. Ian Ward made some inroads later on with 3 wickets, Greg Neale 2, but Bedworth still managed a healthy 233 for 9.
Southam soon found themselves at 34 for 3, Tom Russell 22, Tom Wilkins 15, Simon Heath 24 and Richard Heath 26 all got starts but got out, and only Dwyer with 41 not out looked like challenging the total and Southam closed on 163 for 7. Lovick 3 wickets and Price 2 doing most of the damage.
STRONG WIND AT BARBY
Southam Sunday 2nds produced an all round performance to beat Barby. Batting First Southam began steadily with Day (32) and Fell (38) building the foundations. The middle order increased the run rate to help Southam to 208 for 7 off 40 overs. T. Wilkins (48) and B.Land (33).
Barby started slowly mainly due to a great opening spell from Preston and despite some late hitting fell well short of their counterparts total end on 144 for 8. Preston 1- 18, and debutant A. Day 3-22.
Southam Sunday 1st XI lost their first game of the season against Norton Lindsey at Old Road. Batting first Southam posted 180 from their 40 over, mainly thanks to Luke Nelly (40), Sam Upton 17 and Jack Pitom 26 not out. Warner 2 for 26 the bestof the away bowlers. Lindsey never looked in trouble as they exposed the timid Southam bowling and despite being 27 for 3 with the ever-improving Matt Crowther striking, Warner guided Norton Lindsey home with a quickfire 72 not for an away win for the loss of only four wickets.
SOUTHAM KINGS OF THE CASTLE
Southam regained top spot after this entertaining high scoring game.
On winning the toss, Southam elected to bat on a superb wicket. After losing an early wicket, Chris Bramley and Dan Vernon put Kenilworth to the sword with some superb batting. Vernon was in great touch hitting 10 fours and a six in his 53 before holing out to mid-off. Bramley continued in his own serene way and in partnership with Dave Hawkes (31) continued the run fest. Further double figure contributions down the order boosted the final total to a daunting 295-7, but the star of the show was Bramley who hit a marvellous 123. Kenilworth's Charlie Leonard toiled away well in a 19 over spell for a 3-92 reward.
Kenilworths reply began slowly and they lost 2 early wickets to the spin of Dan Vernon. This brought in skipper Dave Edmunds,(88) who in partnership with Mark Deeley(32) began to build a base from which an assault could be launched. However, losing both in quick succession knocked the run chase back until no.7 Mitch Lowe decided 120 off 9 overs was still possible!! In his own inimitable way he smashed 6 sixes in a rapid 47, until he was completely outfoxed by the nervless spin of Dan Vernon. That signalled the end of the run chase, and the draw was securely gained by Leonard (21*) and smiley keeper Watts. Vernon was once again the best bowler for Southam with another 4 wickets, however, special mention must be made of 13 year old John Wigley who impressed all with 7 overs of controlled line and length .
Southam regained top spot after this entertaining high scoring game.
On winning the toss, Southam elected to bat on a superb wicket. After losing an early wicket, Chris Bramley and Dan Vernon put Kenilworth to the sword with some superb batting. Vernon was in great touch hitting 10 fours and a six in his 53 before holing out to mid-off. Bramley continued in his own serene way and in partnership with Dave Hawkes (31) continued the run fest. Further double figure contributions down the order boosted the final total to a daunting 295-7, but the star of the show was Bramley who hit a marvellous 123. Kenilworth's Charlie Leonard toiled away well in a 19 over spell for a 3-92 reward.
Kenilworths reply began slowly and they lost 2 early wickets to the spin of Dan Vernon. This brought in skipper Dave Edmunds,(88) who in partnership with Mark Deeley(32) began to build a base from which an assault could be launched. However, losing both in quick succession knocked the run chase back until no.7 Mitch Lowe decided 120 off 9 overs was still possible!! In his own inimitable way he smashed 6 sixes in a rapid 47, until he was completely outfoxed by the nervless spin of Dan Vernon. That signalled the end of the run chase, and the draw was securely gained by Leonard (21*) and smiley keeper Watts. Vernon was once again the best bowler for Southam with another 4 wickets, however, special mention must be made of 13 year old John Wigley who impressed all with 7 overs of controlled line and length .
AMAZING GAME ENDS IN WIN
Whoever penned the phrase " victory was snatched from the jaws of defeat " could well have been watching cricket at Kings Heath yesterday.
Replying to the home teams 149, Southam slumped to a perilous 13-5, effectively 13-6 with No.7 bat Batchelor in hospital with a nasty facial injury. However, Southam skipper Dave Hawkes was in no mood to roll over and die, and with Ollie Pilgrim (17) took the score to 76 before 3 wickets fell to leave the score on 96-8. With last man Waters(20), Hawkes(88*) manufactured most of the strike and mixing stout defence and aggression ( 5 sixes)somehow got the scoreboard ticking to such great effect that victory was achieved with 13 overs to spare.
Earlier in the day, Kings Heath were put in on a very green damp wicket that offered alarming movement and steepling bounce. Openers Davies and D. Monk however took the score to 39 before Waters removed them both and the next 2 to leave the score 50-4. Young batsman T. Payne survived a nasty blow to his nether regions and bravely got to 41 before being bowled by Dan Vernon who also accounted for D.Joyce. The end soon came as Mike Clements mopped up the tail with a 4-23 burst. Only No.7 P.Monk offered any late order resistance with a patient 33*. Waters fiery burst rewarded with a 4-46 return.
The reply was in tatters as P.Monk(3-11 off 9) A.Buddhia (2-24 off 8) and A.Davies(2-47 off 8)exploited the pitch perfectly but victory was achieved in one of the most remarkable games this correspondent has ever been involved in.
BACK DOWN TO EARTH
After the monumental high the previous week, Southam came back down to earth after a dismal display at Fillongley on saturday.
Inserted on a wet wicket, Fillongley made steady progress against some average Southam bowling, however no batsman got beyond the 39 scored by opener C.Moore. Solid contributions from C.Hill (38), A.Carty (23) and skipper P.Hammond (23*) got the home team to a reasonably challenging 204-7. David Hawkes bagged a 5-42 return with his mixed bag of seamers, cutters and off spinners. In a very disappointing reply, Southam never got going against a distinctly average home bowling attack. They once again slumped to 28-6, and only a 7th wicket partnership of 47 between O.Pilgrim (36) and Rob Edom (27) delayed the inevitable. The end came when last weeks hero T.Waters skied one to mid off and the scoreboard told the story. 110 all out.
BIRTHDAY BOY BARNES WALLACE
TURNS IT ON FOR CALLY
Southam 2nds were involved in a thrilling draw with Bronze in the first game of the second half of the season. After a good game in the first encounter which Southam took a winning draw, this match had everything. Southam found themselves in trouble as they slumped to 55 for 5 of which Matt Goatley scored 27. However Simon Heath 21, Brendan Dwyer 84 and Tom Wilkins 65 led a spirited fightback which resulted in a healthy 265 for 9 being set for the visitors. Sturney 76, Maddams 48 and Ul Haq 35 put Bronze in a strong position at 200 for 4, but the reintroduction of Greg Neal with 3-57 and Dwyer 4-79 kept the pressure on the batsmen, and Bronze, despite only needing 13 from the last two overs, were left hanging on at 255 for 9 as Neale bowled a double wicket maiden in the penultimate over in a stupendous display of bowling to give Southam the share of the points.
It was especially sweet for Greg ‘Barnes Wallace’ Neale on his birthday as the crowd, which included the returned first and third teams, who were royally entertained by Barnesy and Dwyer, whose all round performances have transformed the fortunes of the Seconds after weeks in the form doldrums.
