LEAMINGTON have kept alive their hopes of Birmingham & District Premier Division Two title glory after clinching victory by nine runs in a reduced-overs battle with Harborne.
The hosts smashed their way to a 147-5 score, in no small part to half-centuries from top-order duo Waqar Ahmed (51) and Oliver Currill (69).
Batting first after Harborne elected to field, Spa slowly recovered from losing Harrison Smith (0) from the third ball of the game, clambering their way to 28-2 before a third-wicket partnership moved the hosts up a gear.
Currill and Ahmed smashed 91 between them off 59 balls faced until the former’s dismissal from Swapnil Gugale’s catch off a James Hunt (2-23) delivery.
Ahmed continued to battle on until being run out by Jack Holloway at 137-4, with Leamington ending their batting spell shortly afterwards.
The hosts were made to bide their time when bowling towards Harborne openers Gugale (41) and Suraj Kumar (44) – the pair managing 88 between them until the former was caught from a ball delivered by Perry Derrick (2-18).
Kumar lasted slightly longer at the crease, taking his side over the 100-run mark as Harborne honed in on Leamington’s score.
Jonathan Wigley (2-30) dismissed Tejas Wagle (6) and Tom Payne (31) in the penultimate over, with both being caught by Oliver Currill, to reduce Harborne’s run rate at a crucial moment in the game.
With five dot balls and just one run being scored in the final over bowled by Matthew Davison, Leamington confirmed victory, keeping them in the hunt with three fixtures remaining.
Spa are a point off top spot and visit eighth-placed Bridgnorth on Saturday.
