CRICKET: KENILWORTH Wardens teams opened their Cotswold Hills campaigns at the weekend with the third XI slipping to a disappointing ten wicket defeat to Lapworth.
Having lost the toss and being asked to bat, Wardens made a solid start with an opening stand of 43 between Fred Rex (23) and Lewis Baker (18).
However the loss of Rex to the bowling of Mark Hadden (32/2) prompted a dramatic collapse – leaving Wardens struggling on 58/5.
Only an unbeaten 39 from Ollie Morgan-Jones prevented Wardens from subsiding, with the away side eventually being bowled out for just 109.
Sean Cross (20/3) and Nick Spence (34/2) were the main wicket takers for Lapworth.
In reply, Reuben Arnold survived a first ball lbw appeal to go on to dominate Lapworth’s innings – hitting 92 off just 53 balls.
Lapworth cruised past their target to reach 112 without loss off just 15.3 overs.
The fourth team fared better, beating Alcester and Ragley 2nd XI by two wickets.
Wardens won the toss and put the visitors into bat and made early progress, reducing the visitors to 36/2 with early wickets for Chris Porter (34/2).
The visitors responded though to close on 176 all out from 41 overs.
Kenilworth made a steady start in response with Les Reid (14) and Mike Sorrell (15) putting on 30 for the first wicket.
From then wickets fell at regular intervals, but an unbeaten 56 from Nick Lewis helped Wardens over the line as they reached their target in the 43rd over.
Elsewhere Wardens 5th XI began their season in Division 6 of the Cotswold Hills League with a comfortable 7 wicket win at home to Bretforton 2nd XI.
Bretforton reached 117 all out before Wardens responded by chasing down the total in 28 overs – helped by a strong performance from Alex Waters, who hit 62*.
