DROITWICH suffered another poor batting performance as they slipped to a disappointing 105-run defeat at Bredon and into the bottom two of Worcestershire County League Division Two.
It all seemed to be going swimmingly for Spa when they started by removing both Bredon openers cheaply before an intelligent innings of 45 from the experienced Martin Hill helped the hosts to recover.
A spate of wickets then seemed to swing the game in Droitwich’s favour before the home side’s C Papirnic went on the offensive to bludgeon 57 from only ten overs to help Bredon post a competitive 225-9.
There were two wickets apiece for Phil Thomas, Martyn Davies and Matthew Gurr while Carl Thomson picked up 3-43 when bowling at a difficult time of the innings.
The Spa reply got off to the worst possible start as they slumped to 40-5, with only Davies making double figures out of the first six batsmen.
A valiant eighth-wicket stand between Thomas (34) and Gurr (18 not out) pushed the Droitwich total into three figures before they were eventually dismissed for just 120 in the 30th over.
After his earlier cameo, Papirnic inflicted damage with the ball to grab three wickets although Tim Penney was the pick of the Bredon bowlers, running through the visitors’ top order to claim 3-7.
There was a first win of the season for the Seconds, who cruised past Colwall by eight wickets in Division One Second XI.
A confident bowling performance ensured the visitors were shot out for only 114 as the returning Joe Smith claimed a four-for and the economical Karl Goddard delivered a captain’s display of 3-24 from 13 overs.
James King (40) and Kieran Wilkins (50 not out) guided them home with 34 overs to spare.
The Thirds deprived Harvington from victory in Division Five as they settled for a draw in the wake of the visitors posting 306-6.
Joe Vose blazed 103 and George Burford carried his bat with an unbeaten 77.
Captain Nick Sankey hit 46 in the Spa reply of 122-4.
The Fourths were soundly beaten by 126 runs at Barnards Green in Division Five Second XI.
Jacey Foster (5-63) and Archie Fenn (3-44) pegged the hosts back from 177-1 to 249 all out.
Chris Hill and Robert Wilson both made half centuries for Green – a feat which the Droitwich batsmen could not repeat as they failed to recover from 13-3.
Tomorrow (Saturday), the Firsts welcome high-flying Belbroughton to St Peter’s Fields, the Seconds and Thirds travel to Pedmore and Barnt Green respectively while the Fourths entertain Netherton.
