Defeat but Beacon take second spot
Beacon secured the runners-up spot on the final day of action in the South Staffs County Cricket League – despite tasting defeat.
With Milford Hall having already been crowned champions, the last weekend of action was all about who would finish second.
And, in the end, Beacon just about got the job done – with the seven points they gained from their loss at Fordhouses seeing them finish a point above Tamworth with Lichfield and Penkridge juts two and four points adrift respectively.
Beacon’s clash at Fordhouses went down to the wire with the hosts getting across the line with just one ball remaining.
After being put into bat, Beacon posted a challenging 236-7 from their 40 overs.
Opener James Fildes continued his good form with 67 while the Green brothers, Dan and Ollie, made 36 and 34 not out respectively – the latter sharing a quick-fire eighth-wicket stand of 57 with Sam Flavell (23 not out) that boosted the visitors’ total.
Solid contributions from Ales McChristie (40), Matthew Gallear (35), Parminder Singh (34), Niall Cooper (29) and Lewis Peat (29 not out) kept Fordhouses in touch with Zak Shah then hitting the penultimate ball of the final over for four to seal victory.
Tamworth had to settle for third in the standings, but ended the season by beating Brewood, dismissing their opponents for 180 after posting 257-4.
Lichfield signed off with a resounding 124-run triumph at Wombourne.
Adam Braddock (67), Riley Ward (42) and Oliver Wem (32) helped Lichfield to 205-6. James Wilkinson then took 3-13 as Wombourne were rolled over for 81 in reply.
Penkridge also strolled to victory against Old Wulfrunians.
Attiq Chishti top scored with 86 and Ishaq Mohammed made 63 as the hosts piled up 276.
That total proved well beyond Old Wulfs as they fell for 91. Kashif Hussain was the pick of the Penkridge bowlers with 3-21.
Hammerwich were another side who struggled with the bat, bowled out for 75 in reply to Wolverhampton’s 218-9.
Andy Bowyer and Nikul Lal impressed with the ball for Wolves, taking 4-18 and 3-15 respectively.
Opener Ramanjot Jaswal had earlier made 58 for Wolves with Snadeep Dhillon hitting 45.
