Five star Wilks as Pershore lead (From Cotswold Journal)

Five star Wilks as Pershore lead

10:00am Sunday 5th August 2012 in Cricket

PERSHORE maintained their position at the top of Worcestershire League Division One following an emphatic nine-wicket victory over Pedmore at The Bottoms.

After winning the toss, Pershore skipper Chris Ridings asked the visitors to bat and his opening attack of Luke Dalley and Joe Fowles immediately made inroads into the Pedmore top order.

Their combined efforts helped reduce the visitors to 9-3. This devestating spell included the dismissal of former Worcester City goalkeeper Danny McDonnell for a duck.

A stand of 70 between James Burgoyne (65) and Washeem Ashia (22) helped retrieve the situation but Lee Wilks, bowling tight off spin, removed the latter.

With Sean Jenkins getting the important wicket of Burgoyne, the Pedmore tail crumbled as they lost six wickets in adding just 46 runs to close their innings on 154 all out.

Skipper Wilks finished with the impressive figures of 5-33 off 16 overs, including three maidens.

In Pershore’s reply, Michael Faraday (45) proved there were little problems with the wicket and David White (50 not out) and Chris Ayliffe (46no) with a fine stand of 99, saw Pershore home with 15 overs to spare.

The seconds are seventh in Division Two following a winning draw at Feckenham.

Having posted 242-8 in their 50 overs, including 109 from Dean Brookes, Feckenham held out and closed on 154-9.

Brookes’ century was the highlight of the Pershore innings, although Andy Hawes (23) and Naomi Heywood (22) chipped in to set an imposing total, which included 38 extras.

Tom Bird took 5-39 off 17 overs in the visitors’ reply but David Whitehead (19 not out) and James Reynolds (0no) denied Pershore victory.

• Birlingham firsts’ bid for promotion from Division Three remains on track after they defeated lowly Malvern by seven wickets.

Malvern reached 168 all out in 47 overs but were kept in check by 4-44 from Alex Harrison, while Mike Sloan, Richard Genever and Matt Hutton picked up two wickets apiece.

Birlingham, now just three points behind leaders Cookley, made relatively light work of their task as they reached their target in 38.3 overs for the loss of three wickets.

Alan Keylock top-scored on 59 not out, while Martin Webb added 26 and Martin Downes 23.

The seconds made 163 all out but lost to Malvern by three wickets in Division Three.