Bretforton Match Report

Date:- Sat. JUne 2nd

Venue:- Bretforton

Team:-

S. Quirke

A. Fawthrop

A. Peachey

G. Strain  †

T. Mole

A. Shaw

B. Lee ¤

S. Capron

M. Woolley

M. Greenway

G. Reader

Bretforton inflicted a heavy defeat on a Ragley side who lost the toss and were asked to bowl first on a sweltering day.

Bretforton were given a goodish start by openers Witts(41) and Mitchell (31), but the Ragley bowlers held them in check keeping the run rate down, with the hundred not being bought up until the 28th over. Both openers were then dismissed in consecutive overs by Shaun Quirke, who bowled well for his 2-40 from 10 overs. This bought the danger man Paul Jones in for Bretforton. Whilst Jones was playing himself in, Ragley bowler Geoff Reader was bowling tightly at the other end, as well as claiming 2 wickets, those of Berry for 22 and Gregory for 0. At this stage Bretforton was stumbling along at 140 - 4 with only 11 overs left. Ragley were on top but really needed to get Jones out cheaply to keep the score down. This was not to be despite Adam Shaw holding a great catch with Jones only on 20, but as he looked down he was a yard over the boundary. Jones set about the bowling hitting a further 4 sixes until he was out with 4 overs left for 68, this time Shaw held onto the catch just inches inside the boundary. More sensible batting at the end by Humpson (29) and Griffiths 17 not out launched the score up to an impressive 240 - 6.

When Ragley began to bat they came up against some very tight bowling from the Bretforton opening pair of Key and Griffiths, indeed Ragley were 13-2 from 12 overs. Matt Greenway was the only real resistance from the top order as wickets tumbled in an attempt to get the run rate up to any sort of respectability, once he was out for a fighting 29 Ragley were 60-7. Some cheer for Ragley came in the batting of youngsters Adam Peachey (20) and Steve Capron (20) who added 42 for the next wicket, but once they were out Ragley sudsided to a very disappointing 109 all out. Darren Key was the pick of the Bretforton bowlers as he picked up 4 of the top 6 batsmen for only 22 runs. Jones did damage with the ball as well as he cleared the tail up taking 3-7.

Ragley now have a derby game at Ragley Hall against near neighbours Exhall & Wixford.

Sunday - A&RPCC 1st 287 - 3 beat Burlingham 1st 221-8 by 66 runs.

Ragley got their batting back on track in this friendly game against Worcestershire league team Burlingham as they racked up 287 - 3 in 40 overs. The game was memorable for 2 magnificent hundreds from Ragely players new and old. Firstly Shaun Quirke scored his 83rd hundred for Ragley as he finished 103 not out from 58 balls, then 17 year old wicket keeper Adam Warbrick scored his first hundred for the club as he also finished unbeaten on 101 from 70 balls. This pair put on over 200 to help Ragley to this massive score. In reply Jim Shaw claimed 2 wickets for only 14 runs to snuff out any realistic chance Burlingham had of reaching the victory target.