SKIPPER Arti Fiaz is hoping for a sunshine-filled weekend to get rid of the cloud of disappointment hanging over Ombersley.
Last weekend’s eight-wickets loss to table-toppers Shrewsbury made it back-to-back defeats in the Birmingham League Premier Division and after below-par displays under leaden skies Fiaz says his side will be determined to return to winning ways when they travel to West Bromwich Dartmouth tomorrow (Saturday).
Ted Bayliss and Ollie Uffindall will return to the Ombersley side to face the Black Country side, who lie one place and two points above them in the table.
Fiaz called for more discipline after the defeat to Shrewsbury but admitted losing the toss in bowler-friendly conditions also played a huge role.
“Last Saturday and the Saturday before losing the toss was quite important. They proved to be low-scoring games and we need to be better as a group of batters,” said Fiaz. “We didn’t play as well as we know we can. The aim this weekend is to be a bit more disciplined.
“We’ve had a dry week and the forecast is for sunshine and that might help us.”
Shrewsbury won the toss and quickly had Ombersley under pressure. Only opener Frederick Wynn, who top scored with 28, and Joshua Dell (16) managed to withstand the visitors’ attack as Ombersley were skittled for 71 after 36.4 overs.
Mike Barnard (4-28) and Ed Foster (3-33) looked set to bowl unchanged as they tightened the screw until an over from Dillon Pennington and two from George Panayi ended the innings.
Shrewsbury were 25-2 after Wynn snaffled the wickets of Will Parton and Ed Foster but opener Oliver Westbury (17 not out) and Ben Stebbings, who clubbed 42 off 29 balls, eased them past their target in the 19th over.
Ombersley will make two changes to the line-up to visit Sandwell Park. Seamer Bayliss and spinner Uffindall will add other bowling options as well as their batting, while Matt Rawnsley and Andy Robertson drop into the Seconds who face Dartmouth at home.
“The last games have been disappointing, especially after we’d done well in the 50-over format. We’ve shown the ability in the side by winning the Graham Williamson Trophy but you have to tinker your approach for the 55-overs format,” said Fiaz.
“We’ve got the right calibre of players. They have done well already and they just need to adapt.”
Ombersley Seconds also slipped to defeat last weekend.
Having been dismissed for 177, they fell to a six-wickets loss away to Coventry & North Warwickshire. Sam Oakley was the mainstay of the Ombersley batting, hitting 62, as Leron Barker took 3-35.
In reply, Tarandeep Singh Toor led the Coventry batting with 80 as they reached 180-4 after 37.1 overs.
