Milford Hall still top after Hara show
Milford Hall preserved their lead at the top of the Staffs Clubs League as all-round heroics from centurion Ronnie Hira inspired a five-wicket win against Pelsall.
Milford Hall preserved their lead at the top of the Staffs Clubs League as all-round heroics from centurion Ronnie Hira inspired a five-wicket win against Pelsall.
Hira claimed 3-67 then hit 110, as Milford dismissed Pelsall for 221 before reaching 225-5.
Chris Horner was also in top form, taking 5-35 to lead the bowling effort. Matt Shrehorn the saw his side home with an unbeaten 48.
Shrehorn and Hira added 135 for the fifth wicket to take the game away from Pelsall, who had reduced their opponents to 65-3.
Chairman of cricket Kevin Herbert said: "We did well to restrict Pelsall to 221, because at one stage they looked like scoring between 250 or 300.
"It looked like being close when we were three and four wickets down but Ronnie and Matt played really well. Once they put that partnership together, we looked like the only winners."
Last-wicket pair Alex Cotton and Dave Wedge added 25 to guide Brewood to an 'unbelievable' win, keeping them on the trail of leaders Milford Hall.
The tail end duo stood firm to take second-placed Brewood home with three overs to spare, after surprise package Springvale had looked set to cause another shock in the title chase.
Cotton – in just his second match in the first team – ended 17 not out with Wedge unbeaten on 13, as they took their side from 145-9 to a winning 170-9.
Captain Chris Guest said: "It was unbelievable. I've never been involved in a game that close.
"When we were nine wickets down we all thought the match was gone. Then the last pair got a few runs and suddenly we started to think we were back in it.
"Nobody would move from where they were sitting and there was a pitch invasion at the end, because the win was so important to us."
Guest had taken 5-32 earlier as Springvale made 169, with Kier Bettley claiming 2-38 and Tim Friend 2-32.
Ronnie Hassas and John Price guided Penkridge to victory, despite them being handed a scare by bottom side Swindon.
South African Gerhard Smit scored a half-century, as Swindon made 130 batting first with captain Brendan Buchanan claiming a five-wicket haul to leave Penkridge sweating.
Hassan hit an unbeaten 84 to guide his side to a four-wicket victory, as they reached 134-6. Price had earlier claimed five wickets for Penkridge.
Penkridge player Gary Pope said: "We're still within striking distance of the teams at the top so we have to keep going. It was another good win for us, although it got pretty close.
"Their South African batted very well and then Brendan bowled superbly with the new ball."
