CRICKET: LEAMINGTON were on the receiving end of three defeats at the weekend as Arlington Avenue outfit struggled to locate the boundary.
The 1st XI suffered a heavy eight wicket defeat at home against Shropshire side Shifnal.
Although the Spa men gave a much better display with the bat, they were helpless to stop Shifnal who comfortably reached their 250 run target with time to spare.
A lively opening stand produced 64 runs before Jon Wigley was bowled for 32.
Alex Mellor was well supported by Nathan Hooker as the pair helped Leamington pass 150 before Mellor was removed by Charlie Home for 72, one of four wickets for the Shifnal man.
Hooker’s 58 was punctuated with eight boundaries and a late flurry from James Gilchriest (37) and Jack Hawkes (19*) as Leamington reached 250/7 at tea.
Home was the pick of the attack for Shifnal has he bagged four wickets for just 34 runs.
Alex Wyatt also chipped in with two wickets of his own.
Leamington’s bowling options looked limited – and this factor didn’t help as Tom Warner and Matt Davison suffered injury scares during the game.
Shifnal made a good start before Warner removed Home for 28 – and Davison then bowled Leach for 47.
Connor Dudley settled in to play the match-winning innings as he crafted a timely century at a run-a-ball as Leamington tried in vain to remove him.
His unbeaten 113, was supported by Jack McIver’s 49* as Shifnal eased to an eight wicket win with time to spare.
Leamington remain bottom of the league.
2ND XI
In the reverse fixture at Shifnal, weather intervened and a reduced overs match saw the hosts earn a winning draw.
Leamington were asked to bat first and the early order never got going.
It was left to all-rounded Jimmy Gethins to rescue the situation.
His well crafted 75 underpinned the innings, he was well supported by Sumantro Das – unbeaten on 33 at tea – as Leamington closed on 192/8.
Stephen Taylor was the pick of the bowlers for Shifnal with four wickets for just 58 runs.
In reply, Leamington took three early wickets after weather intervened – leaving Shifnal chasing a reduced target to earn a winning draw.
Taylor carried his good form into his own innings making 53 as Shifnal edged ahead of the rate.
Das took two wickets but Shifnal reached 139/5 off 32 overs to give them 14 points while Leamington picked up six points.
3RD XI
The 3rd team had a collective off day at Exhall & Wixford to remain at the foot of the CHL Premier Division table.
Exhall had two centurions as they amassed 275/4.
Leamington stumbled to 103 all out in response – picking up just three points for their efforts.
4TH XI
Leamington 4th’s played host to Blockley and managed to scrape into three figures, making 101. Mark Davison proved to be the pick of the batsman with 40.
Despite the best efforts of Mark Ryan, snaring four victims for the second Saturday on the spin, Blockley eased to 105/5 and a comfortable win.
