AN OUTSTANDING spell of bowling from Phil Thomas inspired Droitwich to beat Enville and the weather in Worcestershire County League Division Two.
In conducive conditions for swing bowling, Thomas and fellow opening bowler Max Young took full advantage as they ran through the visitors batting at St Peter’s Fields to set up a comfortable six-wicket win.
Enville slipped from 24-2 to 49-9 as Thomas returned to form with a bang, claiming 6-36 off 17 overs of controlled away swing bowling.
Young also continued his recent good form with 3-42 off 16 overs as both bowlers were aided by some excellent catches by wicketkeeper Jay De Costa and slip fielders Stuart Bryan, Martyn Davies and Young.
Spa were then held up by a gutsy tenth-wicket partnership who batted with relative ease against the softer ball to take their team’s score to 102 before the latter was run out in the 39th over.
In reply, Spa had their customary top order wobble and when opener Young fell for 25 to be quickly followed by Kieran Wilkins, the home side were precariously placed at 57-4.
Any chance of a surprise Enville victory was quickly snuffed out by Matt Gurr (10 not out) and Paul Bryan (20no) as Spa coasted home with 23 overs to spare – the victory achieved half-an-hour before the anticipated afternoon rain finally arrived.
Droitwich travel to Himbleton on Saturday for their final game of the season and still have a chance of finishing in fourth spot.
The Seconds, whose weekend clash at Feckenham was washed out, host Hagley.
