Tenbury 109

Claverley 110-3

CLAVERLY won the all-important toss in this Crusader Worc-estershire League Division Four match at Penlu and had no hesitation in asking Tenbury to bat on a drying wicket.

Opener Ben Andrews (3) continued his miserable run with the bat and became Richard Hadlington's first victim in the third over.

Number three Chris Giles joined opener John Pearson and the pair got their heads down and grafted for runs against accurate swing and seam bowling, backed up by sharp fielding.

They put together a gritty stand of 75 for the second wicket and were both starting to play shots and lift the tempo when they left in quick succession, Pearson for 32 and Giles for 34, again snared by Hadlington.

This signalled a major middle order collapse with Aaron Morris, Andy Adams, Derek James and Tom Rawlings all failing to trouble the scorer as Tenbury lost six wickets for the addition of only eight runs.

Fine bowling

Tail-enders Paul Murphy (8) and Paul Higgins (9) tried to extend the home innings and lift the total but Dave Baker claimed both wickets to finish with 5-58, ably backing up the fine bowling of Hadlington who claimed 5-22.

Tenbury's meagre total of 109 was always going to be difficult to defend on a wicket which was playing easier as the hot sun dried it out.

Opening bowlers Andy Adams and Derek James gave Tenbury the best possible start by each claiming a wicket in their first over, Adams thanks to a sharp catch at short leg by acting skipper Giles, and James courtesy of a superb one-handed diving catch by Rawlings.

Claverley recovered thanks to a fighting knock of 58 from Geoff Burdon which was ended when spinner Morris bowled him with the total at 80.

That was the last wicket to fall and Claverley eased their way to a comfortable seven wicket win.