DROITWICH enjoyed a successful resumption of league cricket with three wins out of four in the first round of fixtures in the Worcestershire County League 40-over competition brought in for the shortened season.
With the help of three stumpings from wicketkeeper Dave Huntbatch, left-arm spinner Dave Stephens returned 6-21 to guide the first team to an opening 28-run victory at Cookley as they successfully defended a score of 169.
In the other matches involving Droitwich teams, it was the batsmen who mainly impressed.
Adam Keen and skipper Karl Goddard made unbeaten half-centuries for the 2nds in their eight-wicket triumph over Astwood Bank 3rds.
Adam and older brother Jonny claimed four of the wickets to fall in the visitors’ innings of 151 all out.
Callum Goddard (58) and Jordan Lewis (79) were in the runs for the 3rds but it proved in vain as they came up 27 runs short of Tenbury Wells 1sts’ total of 190.
The 4ths cruised to a nine-wicket win over Belbroughton with Neil Strange posting an unbeaten 50 on his Spa league debut.
This weekend, the 1sts and 4ths take on their counterparts from Stourport, the 2nds visit Five Ways Old Edwardians 1sts and the 3rds entertain Martley 2nds.
