ANGRY skipper Stuart Dickenson did not hold back in his assessment of Himbleton’s comprehensive eight-wicket defeat to Wormelow in Worcestershire County League Division Two.
The Meadow Boys batted first on a slow wicket with openers Jon Critchlow (26) and Richard Pretty (23) providing a solid base before both departed in quick succession to leave the visitors at 64-2.
Wickets fell regularly and soon Himbleton were wobbling at 107-5.
A quick-fire counter-attack from the in-form Sean Jenkins (54) and Dickenson (16) took the score to 142 before a running mix-up left Jenkins stranded to end the partnership.
Wormelow’s slow bowler Luke Sparrow (5-36) cleaned up the tail to leave Himbleton 157 all out.
With the wicket baking in the warm sun it was always going to be difficult to restrict the chase by the hosts, though Rob Perrins was at his parsimonious best with a spell of 1-12 from eight overs.
Runs came slowly but steadily for Wormelow, opener Matt Deem (44no) making the most of the 57 overs available with a painstaking innings from 137 balls.
Jon Critchlow (1-35 from 14 overs) was the pick of the Himbleton bowlers, extracting turn and bounce from a placid wicket.
The hosts, however, completed their victory in the 47th over.
Dickenson said: “I can’t hide the fact we were poor with the bat, except Sean Jenkins who batted superbly again.
“We basically gave them nine wickets through lack of application and you can’t do that whatever level you’re playing.
“The bowling was far from threatening but we found some innovative ways to get out rather than knuckle down and bat for 50 overs.
“If we’d batted through it would have been a very different game.
“We didn’t get any bonus points and that’s hard to take – it doesn’t reflect our effort in the field.”
Himbleton entertain Kempsey on Saturday.
