IN FORM Himbleton moved to the top of Division Three of the Worcestershire County League after beating both Bartestree and Lugwardine and the weather.
In a disruptive game of cricket, skipper Jon Critchlow looked in complete control as his sublime 123 steered his side to a 98-run victory.
This was his third century of the season, while Ali Pretty’s 81 helped Droitwich put on 210 for the first wicket. After seeing off the new ball, the pair scored fluently.
When Pretty was caught at first slip in the 37th over the middle order had free licence to play positive cricket for the remaining 13 over’s of the innings.
However, Bartestree’s break through was followed by another wicket as Sean Jenkins was bolwed, but Jamie Alford supported his captain’s purple patch by ensuring Himbleton’s leader took the majority of the strike.
Alford (13) fell after forcing proceedings with only five overs left and was soon followed by Critchlow who eventually held out to deep square after his trademark pull let him down for the first time this season.
Bartestree forced their way back into the game and clawed the scored back to 250–4 from 45 over’s after Himbleton’s blissful start.
After Ricky Pretty was dismissed for 11, the reliable Mike Rogers (17 n.o) dragged the scored to 300, with Ashton Greenwood chipping in with useful runs in the last over.
Bartestree’s reply was restricted by a brilliant first ten overs of bowling from Jenkins and Rogers as they could only make 30.
The game was interrupted on four occasions due to sporadic rain and meant Bartestree’s total was reduced to reflect the overs lost.
George Clifton took the first wicket of the reply as he had Tom Haynes trapped in front for lbw before Alford picked up two quick wickets, including a fantastic catch in the gully by Jenkins.
With a major down pour again stopping play, it looked like Himbleton had done enough on superior run rate. But when the sun returned along with a refreshed Bartestree lower order, a revised target of 240 from 40 overs ensured a potentially thrilling end to the game.
Dave Robinson fired a quick 18 before Ashley Jones scored 61 from only 30 balls as he took a liking to Ronnie Guy – taking 24 off the one over.
With Bartestree needing just over nine an over from the final ten overs it appeared that the momentum of the match was swinging towards the Herefordshire side.
But when one final down pour came the match was all but over.
The two teams were able to get back out for one final over which saw the home side scrap past 200 to get an extra batting point, but Himbleton again showed their determination to fight and battle out a fifth straight win.
