Alcester & Ragley 1st (90-4) beat Moreton in Marsh 1st (86 all out) by 6 wicketsC

       
Ragley ended a miserable run of 5 games without a win by crushing Moreton in Marsh by 6 wickets at Ragley Park on Saturday. Winning the toss and electing to field first Ragley’s old woes came to the fore early on as fielding errors saw 2 catches and an easy run out go begging. This was changed around as Adam Peachey held onto a chance in the covers to dismiss opener Hardiman for 9 from the bowling of Julian Reader who had been unlucky on several occasions before this breakthrough. Sid Bennett opened the bowling in partnership with Reader and bowled well on his 1st XI debut and was unlucky not to claim a deserved wicket. Moreton had reached 49 for the loss of only 1 wicket before Reader struck again removing the dangerous Willaims with a superb delivery that cut in from way outside off stump to bowl him for 30. This started a collapse that saw Moreton lose their last 9 wickets for only 37 runs. Reader claimed another wicket in his final over to finish with 3-17. Once he had finished his spell Marc Woolley turned destroyer-in-chief as he claimed a wicket with the first ball of his spell, for the 3rd time this season, and then went on to take superb figures of 5-6 in 6 overs as he signed off for the season in style bowling Berryman for 3 and then having Millard lbw first ball. He will start next season on a hat trick which could be one of the longest in history if he takes a wicket with his first ball in 2009! Steve Capron wrapped the final wicket up as West took a good catch on the long on boundary from his bowling to close the innings at 86 all out in 33 overs.

Ragley had 57 overs to get the 87 runs required for victory, but there was more urgency than this needed as the threat of rain was always there. Ragley had reached 23 for no wicket when Strain (7) reached for a very wide delivery in his haste to get the runs scored but only succeeded in edging the ball behind. Devincentiis then came to the crease and looked positive also and in good touch as he stroked 3 fours in his first 6 balls before trying a very adventurous from the bowling of Bandeira and played on for 13. Captain Lee was still there and the score had reached 59-2 when Bandeira had him lbw for 25. There were a few jitters in the Ragley camp when Peachey was caught at slip, and Ragley required 14 runs with 6 wickets in hand. They eased over the line thanks to youngster Ricky Allan who hit 3 fours, finishing the game with a drive up to the long off boundary as Ragley knocked the runs off in the 23rd over. Bandeira was the most successful bowler for Moreton as he claimed 3-27 in his 10 overs.