Alcester & Ragley (211-9) lost to Rowington (212-5) by 5 wickets

Ragley lost their unbeaten home record for this season as they lost to Rowington by 5 wickets at Ragley Park.

After losing the toss Ragley were asked to bat first and found early runs difficult to come by as Rowington’s opening bowlers, especially Stuart Norris, bowled a very tidy line and length. To compound the slow start to the innings Ragley also lost 3 early wickets as they struggled to 64-3 in 22 overs. Only Ricky Allan was holding the innings together at this stage as he punished the rare bad balls that were on offer. He soon lost 2 further partners as Ragley looked in trouble at 93 for 5 after 31 overs. Adam Devey came to join Allan at the crease at this stage and they put on the only meaningful partnership of the innings as first Devey and then Allan took the attack to Rowington. They added 77 in 9 overs before Allan was unfortunately run out from a direct hit from Norris for an excellent 71. his maiden 50 for the 1st team. Devey (31) in conjunction with the lower order added some useful runs in the final 6 overs to lift Ragley to a respectable 211-9 after they had been in trouble early on. The pick of the Rowington bowling were Gilbert 2-15 from his 10 overs, Norris 1-32 and Jay 3-43.

In reply the Rowington openers started off at a rapid rate in pursuit of 212 to win. The game was quickly slipping away from Ragley as Rogers and Alex Smith punished the opening Ragley bowlers for 60 in the first 10 overs as Ragley could not apply any pressure on them. This changed when Marc Woolley was introduced into the attack. After a couple of tight overs Woolley made the breakthrough that Ragley needed as Rogers (41) holed out to Capron on the long off boundary. Next ball Haywood was lbw to Woolley as Ragley came straight back into the game. Good support bowling followed from 1st team debutant Ben Shuttleworth as he bowled his seven overs at a good pace and also claimed a wicket as Gilbert was caught for 15. Rowington at this stage were 104-3, requiring 108 to win from 21 overs. However Ragley could not get the big wicket of Smith at this stage as he continued to stroke the ball around and lift Rowington to 160 before Lewis Clark had him well caught at mid wicket by Shuttleworth for 65. A run out followed shortly afterwards as the game swung back to Ragley as Rowington needed 55 to win from the final 8 overs. Tom Morris was bowling a good spell at this stage and in partnership with Clark got the run rate up to 8 an over required. However Ragley still had to get the dangerous Thorne out who was keeping the scoreboard ticking over until he opened his shoulders with 4 overs left to get 32. He scored 4 fours and a six in quick succession to ease Rowington home with an over to spare. He finished on 64 not out. Woolley finished with the best figures for the bowlers as he claimed 2-31 from 9 overs.