Alcester & Ragley 1st (177-9) lost to Broadway (181-5) by 5 wickets

Ragley’s promotion hopes suffered a set back as they lost away at top of the table Broadway on Saturday. Ragley elected to bat first on a damp but true wicket and they lost wickets at steady intervals, sliding to 70-4 with the first four Broadway bowlers claiming a wicket a piece. Opener Ben Lee was still there though and in partnership with Adam Devey the pair put on 58 in 10 overs before Devey was bowled for 19 from a good inswinger from Gary Evans. Lee bought up his second consecutive 50 shortly after this before he was caught at midwicket for 54 to give Beale his second wicket. Sensible batting by the lower order of Morris (12) and Marc Woolley (12not out) lifted Ragley to a respectable score of 177-9 from their 45 overs, helped in no small part by 36 extras. Pick of the Broadway bowlers were Beale (3-35) and Powell (2-27).

Ragley took to the field desperate for early wickets and after a rash of extras Julian Reader provided the wicket as he bowled opener G Evans for 5 in the 8th over. New batsman Mark Evans rode his luck early on as several airbourne shots just evaded fielders as he and Broadway captain Clements lifted the score to 56 before Clements was lbw from the bowling of Wolley for 22. Ragley were well in the game at this point as chances were being created regularly, but a couple of dropped chances cost them dear as Evans went onto his 50 and in partnership with Beale they added 80 priceless runs before Beale was well caught behind the wicket by Ricky Allan off the bowling of Adam Warbrick for 24. Warbrick continued to bowl well and put Broadway under some pressure in their pursuit of the victory target and was rewarded with 2 further wickets including that of Evans for a match winning 81 as he held onto a fantastic caught and bowled chance one handed as the ball was blasted back at him. Ragley claimed no further wickets as Smallman (24 not out) eased Broadway home by 5 wickets with 3 overs to spare as he hit a 6 to win the game. This result virtually guarantees Broadway promotion to the premier division next year whilst Ragley must win all their remaining 3 games and hope results go their way. Warbrick was the pick of the bowlers as he finished with 3-36.