Springvale bounce back with welcome victory

The Bilston-based club’s campaign had so far already seen new club records, both wanted and unwanted, after they followed up a 200-plus opening partnership by being skittled out for just 26 by Whittingham the following week.

On Saturday they rebounded from the latter disappointment in emphatic fashion, dismissing their hosts for just 71 and then chasing down the target with ease in 18.2 overs.

That was four balls less than Rayon Ebanks and Eren Ranu took to bowl out Walsall. Ebanks claimed 6-33 and Ranu 4-36 as the home side collapsed from 50-2.

Opener Paul Baker then struck an unbeaten 28 as Springvale made short work of the reply, much to the delight of skipper Matthew Bennett.

“After what had happened the week before, getting bowled out for just 26, we needed to front up and the boys certainly did that,” he said. “We had to show that what happened against Whittingham was a one-off.

“Again we found ourselves chasing down a small total but this time we held our nerve. It was a big win for us.”

Premier Division new-boys Rugeley are up to fifth in the table after a 10-wicket win over struggling Swindon.

Four wickets for seamer Junaid Khan saw the visitors, who remain without a win, bowled out for just 109.

Andrew Le Feaver then smashed an unbeaten 75 as Rugeley chased down the target in just 17.1 overs.

Penn are third after narrowly failing to close out victory at home to Cannock. A brisk 84 in just 96 balls from opener Sandeep Dhillion and 66 from skipper Mark Green helped Penn rack up 261-7 from their 50 overs.

Yet they were denied victory by a brilliant 117 not out from Cannock’s Mark Benton. The opener carried his bat as the visitors finished on 192-9, no.11 Joe Tennant seeing out 15 balls without scoring.