Alcester & Ragley slipped to a disappointing defeat away to Overbury in a game they seemed to be on top in for the majority of.
Overbury elected to bat first and were given a cautious start by Goodwin and Munro who creeped the score along to only 16 from the first 10 overs as Julian Reader and Steve Capron kept the runs down. By drinks the score had reached 67-0 from 22 overs as Ragley’s bowlers continued to keep the pressure on the scoreboard but crucially wickets were not forthcoming. The luck changed in the first over after drinks as Lee held onto a catch at slip from the bowling of Westwood to dismiss Munro for 32. New batsman Arnett was then dropped in the same over for 0 and this seemed to be the change of luck that Overbury needed to push the score along. As the rate increased Ragley did pick up more wickets as chances were created, Goodwin was bowled by Warbrick for 45 but Arnett and Griffiths pushed the score along to lift the score to 160-2 from 38 overs. John Tose then dismissed Arnett(35), Griffths (28) and Brookes (13) as Overbury posted 196 for 7 after 45 overs. Tose finished with 3-33 and Capron excellent figures of 9 overs 1-13 as he carried on his tight early spell when he returned at the end of the innings.

In reply with grey clouds circling it was imperative that Ragley got off to a good start so they were in touch with the run rate should the rain come down. Unfortunately they lost Sloan for 0 in the first over. Lee and Warbrick however got Ragley’s chase off to a good start after this as the score reached 38 in the 9th over before Lee was caught for 18. Warbrick was joined by Strain and both batsmen looked in good touch and were adding good runs with seemingly no trouble until Warbrick was bowled for 31 by one that kept a touch low from the bowling of Davis, this left the score at 71-3 from 17 overs. With the score at 84-3 the threatening rain came down and the players had to leave the pitch until it relented, which it did after half an hour or so. With the resumption of play came a revised score for Ragley of 166 to win from 38 overs, this meant 82 more runs to win from 18 overs with 7 wickets in hand on a pitch that had played without alarm for batsman. At this stage Overbury introduced Rhodes to the attack and this along with some harry carry by the Ragley batsmen won the game for Overbury. Strain was bowled by Rhodes for 25 in the 2nd over after the resumption, Allan was then caught behind in Rhodes next over whilst Tose was bowled next ball. Three quick wickets had unsettled Ragley as they seemed intent on self destruction, as three wickets quickly turned into 4 and 5 as Lewis Clark was run out for 20 and then Westwood was caught at midwicket from a long hop, Rhodes had claimed 4-17 in his first 5 overs and Ragley were looking down the barrel at 124-8. 42 runs were required from the final 8 overs but only 2 wickets remained. Marc Woolley seemed the man for the occasion as he picked off runs and in partnership with Capron they added 15 crucial runs before Capron was bowled by Brookes for 8. 27 required from 4.3 overs. Woolley was joined by Reader and runs ticked along until Reader was needlessly run out to complete Ragley’s collapse as they were all out for 148 with 3 overs still remaining and 18 left to win. Rhodes finished with match changing figures of 4-23 from 7 overs.