Saturday 28^th June

The First XI made a welcome return to winning ways on Saturday with a comfortable seven-wicket victory over visitors Sutton Coldfield.

The last couple of matches have seen improved performances but not many points from the team. It started a fortnight ago when fine knocks from Gavin and Mickey helped restore batting confidence and last week we played plenty of good  cricket and were unfortunate not to finish with more points from the drawn match with Bromsgrove.

So hopes were high when we entertained bottom club Sutton Coldfield but we went into the game without our pro, Raj Bahtaia, now back in India with his country’s A team squad, contracted player Kadeer Ali, who was recalled to the Gloucestershire first team, and also unavailable Gavin.

But no matter as the team romped to a comfortable win in the end, despite a shoddy display in the field when five chances went begging and the ground fielding was not much better.

Sent in to bat the visitors lost wickets at regular intervals and were eventually dismissed for 144 in 49 overs. The lively Stu Black picked up three wickets and there were two apiece for Mark, Anthony and Adam.

It was not a big target to chase down but with only 33 runs on the board  Steve Lamb, Simon Harding and Adam were back in the pavilion.

But that was the last of the visitors’ success as Mick Davidson and Mark Downes  put together a superb stand of 112 to see us to 20 points with over 20 overs to spare.

Mick, who return to top form with a half century at Dorridge, was the more aggressive and finished unbeaten on 60 while Doddy also continued his fine form this season with 39 not out.

We are still second from bottom but with Attack and Coventry to come in our next two matches we have an excellent chances of pulling away from the drop zone.