Springvale blown away by bowling attack

Whittingham opening pair Jono Allcock and Rob Evans took just 13 overs to take all 10 Springvale wickets and send their team romping to a 124-run victory.

Allcock finished with figures of 6-11, while Evans claimed 4-13, as together they inspired one of the more remarkable collapses in recent Staffs Clubs Premier Division history.

Paul Baker top scored for Springvale with seven as not one batsman managed to make it to double figures.

Whittingham, having lost the toss and been asked to bat, had earlier been bowled out for 150 in less than 33 overs themselves.

Opener Lachlan O’Connor top scored with 44 and his opening partnership of 60 with Daniel Wilks (24) laid the foundations for a total which, while modest, would prove more than enough. David Geran was the pick of Springvale’s bowlers, taking 5-33.

Springvale’s troubles allowed Walsall YPF to jump a place to 10th in the table, after they got their season up and running with a 34-run win over Rugeley.

Having won the toss and chosen to bat, Walsall’s total of 202 featured solid contributions from all of the top five before a short, sweet and swashbuckling 25 from Ghulam Abass provided a late injection of pace.

It proved a decisive knock, as Rugeley fell short in reply. They had been well placed at 130-4 but the dismissal of Paul McHale (29) sparked a collapse which saw the last six wickets fall for just 38 runs.

Mohammed Zubair was their tormentor in chief, taking the final five scalps to finish with figures of 5-38.

Aldridge sit fifth in the table after having to settle for a winning draw at home to Hammerwich.

Omair Farooq hit 74 from 86 balls as the hosts racked up 222-6 in a game reduced to 47 overs by the weather.

Afzal Hussain then claimed 4-37 as they made early inroads into Hammerwich’s reply. But having got the visitors nine down with overs to spare, Hammerwich’s final pair of Stephen Blews (37 not out) and Tom Rayne (13 not out) held firm to earn their team a share of the spoils.