Ashton lift coveted indoor crown

2:29pm Wednesday 30th April 2008

ASHTON are the 2008 Worcestershire Indoor champions and will represent the county in next year's ECB Finals in February.

Playing in their first-ever county final, the Cotswold Hills League club overcame reigning champions Romsley by seven runs in the semi-finals before totally outclassing Worcester Nomads in the final.

Ashton totalled 116-4 against Romsley with opener Richard Wood leading the way early on before returning to help Mah-esh Patel add 32 crucial runs late on.

The chasers had 50 on the board in the opening six overs but, when a free scoring opener retired, the rate slackened and super catches from Richard Cooper and Will Archer chan-ged the game and Ashton reco-rded a memorable win by seven runs.

Nomads had defeated Droit-wich A in their semi-final but were given a real hammering in the final when Cooper and Wood reached 50 inside five overs.

The pair returned after the innings had slumped to 106-4 to post a formidable 140.

Nomads had reduced the target by 27 after two overs but excellent bowling and slick fielding proved the key for Ashton who won by 62 runs.

Overbury, meanwhile, made comfortable progress into round two of the group stages of the 2008 npower Village Cup in a rain-reduced tie last Sunday.

The Cotswold Hills League hosts totalled 180 in their 40 overs with Paul Gillett and Dave Haynes both contributing well.

Opponents Martley were set to score 97 off 22 overs after a rain interruption and they could only manage 70-9 with Adam Brookes claiming four cheap wickets.

The winners are at home to Eastnor on Sunday in the Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Powys group, with Bretforton and Offenham scheduled to play host to Astwood Bank and Feckenham respectively.

Exhall and Wixford have also been given home advantage in the Leicestershire and Warwickshire group where they will face Cropston for a place in the regional quarter-finals.

Fixtures for Saturday

Cotswold Hills League

Premier Division: Shipston v Stratford Bards, Exhall & Wixford v Henley-in-Arden, Bretforton v Overbury, Tanworth-in-Arden v Wellesbourne, Earlswood v Kineton.

Division One: Cath-de-Barnes v Alcester & Ragley, Stratford III v Leamington III, Moreton-in-Marsh v Norton Lindsey, Broadway v Ashton, Bidford v Elmley Castle.

Division Two: Winchcombe v Shipston II, Warwick CC Staff v FISSC, Chipping Campden v Ebrington, Rowington v Ashorne, Long Itchington v Temple Grafton.

Division Three: Fladbury v Blockley, Cookhill v Exhall II, Overbury II v Great Alne, Wellesbourne II v Claverdon, Woodbourne v Kenilworth Wardens III.

Division Four: Alcester II v Winchcombe II, Dorridge & Hockley Heath v Harvington, Norton Lindsey II v Bretforton II, Stanway v Tanworth II, Bearley v Earlswood II.

Division Five: Stratford Bards II v Alvechurch III, Henley II v Leek Wootton, The Lenches v Moreton II, Ashton II v Rowington II, Kineton Ii v Long Itchington II.

Division Six: Earlswood III v Cath-de-Barnes II, Harvington II v Dorridge/HH II, Mickleton v Exhall III, Welford v Broadway II, Kenilworth IV v Bidford II.

Birmingham & District Premier League

Division Two: Evesham v St George's. St George's II v Evesham II.

Worcestershire County League

Division Five: Evesham III v Badsey.

Cotswold District League

Division One: Adlestrop v Oakridge.

Sunday

npower Village Cup

Worcestershire, Herefordshire & Powys group: Overbury v Eastnor, Bretforton v Astwood Bank, Offenham v Feckenham. Leicestershire & Warwickshire: Exhall & Wixford v Cropston. Gloucestershire: Rockhampton v Bredon, Apperley v Smarts Green, Dumbleton v Old Down.

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