Alcester & Ragley 1st (142 all out) lost to Ashton under Hill 1st (146-6) by 4 wicketsD

Ragley’s recent good form came to an abrupt halt on Saturday away at Ashton as their batting let them down.

Ragley lost the toss on a grey and damp day and not surprisingly were asked to bat first. The score had reached 27-1 when Ashton opening bowler Tom Archer claimed 3 wickets in 4 balls to leave Ragley in serious trouble at 27-4 from 8 overs. Adam Peachey (25) and Gary Strain set about consolidating the innings and they had lifted the score to 71 when Archer struck in his final over to have Peachey caught behind. Captain Ben Lee joined Strain and they added 20 before another flurry of 3 wickets in 6 calls left the score at 91-9, one of these was Strain who had batted very determinedly for his 29. The fact that Ragley got up to their final total was down to the final pair of Tom Morris (17 not out) and Steve Capron (32) who must have been wondering what the other batsmen had found so difficult as they shared a fine partnership of 51 before Capron was bowled. Alcester had mustered 142 which gave them something to defend in the field, pick of the Ashton bowlers was Archer who finished with 4-34 and Turner who claimed 2-12.

Ashton openers of Cooper and Haines began well in reply, with Haines particularly severe on any loose deliveries. The score had reached 40 when Marc Woolley took 2 wickets in 3 balls, firstly having Haines lbw for 20 and then Cooper was excellently caught in the gully by Devincentiis for 15. New batsmen Wicks and Turner advanced the score in good time before another eventful over, this time from Morris, claimed 2 wickets. Turner was the first to go run out after another smart piece of work in the field from Devincentiis and then 2 balls later Wicks was well caught behind down the leg side by Strain. Ragley were right back in the game with the score at 67-4 at this stage. Archer then came in and punished some loose bowling by the Ragley bowlers at this crucial stage and in partnership with Martin (21) they added 54 before Adam Warbrick claimed his first wicket for the first team when Paul Dipple held onto an excellent catch in the deep to dismiss Archer for 29. Martin followed 2 overs later as Warbrick claimed his 2nd wicket but Ashton eased home as the Glazier twins scored the 20 runs required with no further alarm. Woolley finished with 2-21 from his ten overs and Warbrick put a disappointing day with the bat behind him to claim 2-20.

Ragley host Broadway on Saturday in the final round of matches for the 1st half of the season.