Will Marsh blast provides a real sting in the tail

Marsh came to the crease with just one wicket remaining and Brewood still 46 runs of their target, staring down the barrel of defeat in their Premier Division clash at Beacon.

But he promptly smashed an unbeaten 45 from just 19 balls, including five sixes, to propel the visitors to a thrilling one-wicket win.

Skipper Richard Bradford said: “It was quite incredible. When the ninth wicket went down, I was considering which way I was going to give them a rollicking.

“Then Will went in and turned the game on its head. He isn’t the worst No.11 in the world and can hit the ball a long way but it looked a tough ask from the position we were in.”

Brewood, who had earlier bowled Beacon out for 173, ended up chasing down the target with still 15 overs to spare.

Bradford added: “It was pointless telling him to go in there and just trying to accumulate. Will’s the kind of batsman who if he has to think about it, is liable to miss one and get out.

“He just went in there, played his natural game and before you knew it the game was over.”

Victory kept Brewood second in the early-season table, but while delighted with the start, Bradford is not getting carried away.

“There is still a long way to go,” he said. “Obviously we are pleased with how things have gone to this point. We had a lot of change over the winter and it seems to have been for the best.”

C&R Hawks continue to lead the way after a 26-run win at struggling Fordhouses. After winning the toss and choosing to bat, nearly every member of the top order made a solid contribution to a total of 256, Iftikhar Khan top-scoring with 44.

Nadeem Akram then removed Fordhouses opener Niall Cooper with the first ball of the innings as the home team’s reply got off to the worst possible start.

Harjovan Dhinsay also returned to the pavilion without scoring as the hosts found themselves facing an uphill struggle.

For a period, it appeared they might be up to the task. Vikai Dass (76) and Russell Thompson (41) put on 103 for the sixth wicket and at 211-5, Fordhouses sensed a victory to spark their so far disappointing campaign.

But when Thompson became one of Johar Ahmed’s three victims, it sparked a collapse which saw the final four wickets fall for just 19 runs as the home side were bowled out for 230.

Penkridge remain third after a 94-run win away to Wombourne.

On a day when five of the six top-flight games were won by the team batting first, Penkridge were bowled out for 198, their score boosted by Ishaq Mohammed’s 70.

The total proved more than enough to see off Wombourne, whose recent batting woes continued.

Basit Zaman (26) was one of only three players to pass 20 as the home team were bowled out for just 104, to lose by 94 runs.

Laeq Chisti and Attiq Chisti claimed three wickets apiece for the visitors.

Opener Johan Maritz top-scored with 63 for Pelsall as they won at Hammerwich by 44 runs.

Jake Lee also hit 61 as the visitors made 236, batting first. Skipper John Jennings scored 66 for the hosts but they fell short of the target, making just 192.