DROITWICH Spa nearly pulled off an incredible Worcestershire County League Division One victory as they fell agonisingly three runs short of chasing down a massive target at Burghill, Tillington & Weobley at the weekend.
A gallant attempt to overhaul the home side’s formidable 301-9 on Saturday came up just short as Spa could only get three of the seven runs needed from the final over.
Stand-in skipper Martyn Davies and Ash Fearnall laid a solid footing to the Droitwich runs chase by putting on 55 for the first wicket in 10 overs.
After earlier claiming 4-37, Aussie Jordan Renau then entered the fray and was particularly harsh on the change bowlers as he raced to 53 before an error of judgement saw him out leg-before.
At the midway point, the visitors were handily placed at 151-2 before the pendulum appeared to swing back in Burghill’s favour as Fearnall was caught on the boundary for a superb 61.
Ian Cottrill and Jez Hanson then picked up the reins and brought Droitwich back into contention before the former was bowled off his pads for a classy 48.
In the exciting climax to the first straight win or lose fixture of the summer, Hanson was stuck at the non-striker’s end for all but one ball of the final over and remained 40 not out as Spa left Herefordshire desperately disappointed after a sterling effort.
By contrast in the reverse Division Two Second XI fixture, there was jubilation for the Seconds as they went top of the table by seeing off Burghill by five wickets.
The evergreen Martin Woodward grabbed 5 wickets for 19 from his ten overs and there was also three wickets for Ollie Sankey as the visitors were bowled out for 87.
Despite an early struggle in reply, an unbeaten 34 from Martin Keen saw Droitwich home.
Honours were even in clashes between Spa’s Thirds and Fourths teams and Oldswinford & Stourbridge Social.
The Thirds were emphatically beaten by 169 runs on their travels in Division Five as they were shot out for just 74 after their hosts amassed 243-6.
At St Peter’s Fields, Droitwich were the victors by 64 runs in Division Five Second XI.
There were half centuries for captain Peter Gurr (52 not out) and Tom Goss (51) as Spa made 152-8 from their 45 overs before Cam Mosely captured 4-5 as Oldswinford were dismissed for 88.
