13-05-2025
Sri Lankan cricketer Fernando makes Bartestree debut in loss
BARTESTREE & Lugwardine have welcomed overseas player Saminda Fernando to their squad.
Fernando opened the batting at Barnards Green - in his first knock on an English wicket and only two days after landing.
The Sri Lankan stroked a powerful 20 and looked all set, till one crept past the bat.
A strange tumble of wickets followed, ending with Bartestree out for a total of 134.
In reply skipper Ryan Trattell took five quick wickets, leaving Barnards Green staggering on 47-5. But the remaining wickets proved too elusive and the hosts won by three wickets.
Colwall progressed into round two of the Village Cup after beating Burghill, Tillington and Weobley by just 10 runs.
Winning the toss and batting at the beautiful Stowe Lane, Colwall piled on the pressure and were 75 without loss after 10 overs.
As soon as the spinners were introduced on the spin-friendly pitch, things started unravelling for Colwall who lost ten wickets for 47 runs to finish on 122 all out.
Robert Cook stroked an exquisite half-century (63) and his opening partner, Henry Hardinges, made a run-a-ball 39.
Young spinners, AJ Morris with 4-32 and George Stevenson with 3-12, will not get a more spinner-friendly wicket this season.
Chasing the modest target, Burghill gave it their best effort but fell short by 10 runs.
AJ Morris and George Stevenson excelled with both the ball and the bat. AJ Morris top-scored with 24 and George Stevenson was 19 not out.
Spinners Henry Hardinges bagged 4-14 and Rahul Katti took 3-36.
The previous day Burghill, Tillington and Weobley fell to a defeat by a single wicket against Hagley.
Winning the toss, the Burgs elected to bat on a glorious sunny day. They were restricted to a modest 156 all out in 34.2 overs.
Jake Kinderman's impressive top score of 43 and a breezy 30 from 16-year-old Archie Stevenson were the highlights of the innings.
Wickets falling at regular intervals throughout Hagley's innings gave the Burgs hope.
But a dogged and streetwise 77 from captain Michael Stead saw Hagley snatch victory after they were 107 for 8 at one stage.
Dashawn Norville returned to fitness and finished with 4-60. There were two wickets apiece for John Lewis (2-19) and AJ Morris (2-54).
Bereft of several first-choice bowlers, Eastnor faced an uphill task at Halesowen thirds and were beaten by 87 runs.
The third-wicket partnership of Samuel Preece and Jude Johnston launched a merciless counter-attack.
Preece dispatched a beleaguered attack to all corners in a blistering innings of 155 not out from 98 balls.
Johnston, steady and assured, compiled an unbeaten 98, the pair adding an eye-watering 276 runs to take Halesowen to a daunting 326-2.
Thrust into the role of opener, Cooper Hebbard rose to the occasion with an innings of high quality. His stroke-play was both crisp and commanding, a masterclass of timing and placement saw him hit 115 from 86 balls.
Yet, around him, wickets continually fells with Kabir Singh (25) and Rohit Chopra (20) were the other top scorers.
