LEAMINGTON experienced a ‘blank’ holiday weekend with fixtures against Shifnal and Barnards Green ending in defeats.
Spa first faced Shifnal in sunny conditions on Saturday in Shropshire, and the home side opted to bat first.
Despite losing two quick wickets, the home side rebuilt their innings courtesy of a strong third wicket stand between Jack Edwards and Ross Aucott.
Auscott made 57 and Edwards a fine 73 as Shifnal moved to 175/4.
Their innings increased in tempo as Jack McIver and Chris Murrall moved the total on at better than a run a ball.
They both made half-centuries – McIver top-scoring 77 – as Shifnal’s innings ended on a daunting 305/7.
Though Leamington lost early wickets in reply, a partnership of 150 between Jon Wigley and Lee Hopkins turned the match in Spa’s favour.
But when they fell in quick succession, Leamington’s tail failed to wag as they were bowled out for 281.
Meanwhile on Monday Barnards Green posted a challenging total of 249/9 from their 50 overs as Midgley helped Leamington with the ball, taking five wickets for 38 runs.
In reply, Leamington made an unspectacular start when Alex Mellor was caught for 18.
The tempo increase when Sulaiman Hussain joined Wigley in the middle as the pair looked to build a stable partnership.
But when Wigley was caught for 38 is signalled the start of a steady decline in Leamington’s innings as spinner Josh Dickenson returned with three wickets for 52 runs.
Leamington were eventually bowled out for 217.
HUNNINGHAM’s second team confirmed promotion from the Warwickshire Cricket League Division Nine East with an emphatic victory at Rugby 3rds.
Skipper Bird won the toss and elected to bat first.
Despite a slow start, Hunningham posted 282/8 from their 45 overs with Harrison (93), Reason (72), and Bird (53) doing the damage.
Rugby always struggled in reply and were eventually bowled out for 162 as James proved the pick of Hunningham’s bowlers – taking four wickets for 30 runs.
KENILWORTH Wardens’ 3rd team were relegated from the top tier of the Cotswold Hills League after slipping to a home defeat against FISSCC.
With the losing team facing relegation, Wardens won the toss and asked the visiting side to bat first.
Despite losing opener Pigott for 0, FISCC batted solidly, with first R Stokes (67) and then A Stokes (53) hitting half centuries and providing the backbone of the innings.
Support from C French (22) and L Glover (28) took the FISCC total to 203 for 9 off their 45 overs.
Wardens made solid progress with the bat in reply, with opener James Ray making an excellent 89 before being run out with the score on 136/5.
Paul Jacob then picked up the baton, and almost guided his side to victory before an excellent caught and bowled by stand out bowler Glover (3-46) in the last over ended Jacob’s innings on 47, and eventually restricted Wardens to a closing total of 200/9, losing by just three runs.
