LEAMINGTON dropped into the bottom three of Birmingham League Division One after a crushing defeat at Bridgnorth.
On so many occasions this season, Spa’s top order had failed to get the side off to a decent start and Saturday proved no different.
Bridgnorth’s opening pair Adam Quiney and David Exall not only took two wickets each, but gave Leamington’s batters few opportunities to score.
At one stage the Spa men were 25-4 at a rate of less than two runs an over.
The middle order prospered somewhat against the change bowlers, firstly through Sulaiman Hussain who made a patient 28 and then through Matt Payne and Chris Calcott who took the score to 127 before the latter departed for a quickfire 35.
Payne was then joined by Tom Warner and they added 43 before Warner became Quiney’s fourth wicket, making 24.
His fifth soon came as Payne fell for 62 and Leamington closed on 196-8 in their 55 overs. Quiney’s figures were an excellent 5-47 in 17 overs.
Bridgnorth’s openers showed Leamington how to build an innings.
Ian Gregory and Ryan Lockley were largely untroubled and scored at a good rate.
They had reached 106 before Gregory edged behind for 60 – the first of two wickets for William Mashinge.
Lockley also scored 60 before falling to the Zimbabwean but Bridgnorth’s progress was unchecked as Simon Gregory added an unbeaten 52 at a run a ball.
The Shropshire side eased to their target in the 32nd over for an eight-wicket win.
Spa seconds continued their impressive Premier Division Second XI run with a four-wicket victory over last season’s champions Wolverhampton.
The thirds consolidated second spot in Cotswold Hills League Division One with a 102-run victory over Catherine-de-Barnes while the fourths slumped to a two-wicket defeat to Broadway in CHL Division Three.
On Saturday the firsts and seconds take on Himley, the thirds travel to Winchcombe while the fourths entertain Ashorne & Moreton Morrell.
