Aggressive batting from Bailey carries on the good work of the Spa attack

David Bailey scored an undefeated 65 to see Leamington to victory against Penkridge.

After surprisingly being asked to bowl on a moist wicket, Leamington got off to a fine start as Tom Warner (2-22) removed both openers lbw to leave the home side reeling on 13 for two.

Wickets continued to fall as the Spa attack bowled with excellent discipline led by Grant Thornton (3-25) and Mark Ashcroft (2-47).

The home side were eventually all out for 135, bolstered by some lower-order hitting from Simon Parnaby who top-scored with 26.

In reply, Leamington slipped to 46 for three.

However, David Bailey and Mark Ashcroft made sure there were no further alarms, combining aggressive strokeplay with resolute defence in an unbeaten fourth-wicket partnership of 93.

Bailey ended on 65 not out (11x4, 1x6) with Ashcroft unbeaten on 19.

Leamington 2nds suffered a second successive defeat after being outplayed in all departments by Knowle & Dorridge.

Leamington chose to bat first on a slow wicket which, until the sun got to work, offered some help to the bowlers.

David Hawkes and Steve Dyer made a cautious start against testing bowling before both fell when seemingly well set.

The only partnership of significance was built by Ollie Currill (42), making the step up from the Cotswold League, and Jack Hawkes.

However, Leamington’s total of 146 for nine was well below par.

In contrast, Leamington’s frontline bowlers allowed K&D to get out of the traps quickly, to such an extent that they reached 80 in only the 11th over.

The introduction of Currill and Harj Singh at least led to a modicum of control.

Currill was unfortunate not to take a wicket in his seven-over spell of testing seam, while Singh bamboozled three K&D batsmen with his variety of spin.

Knowle were never in danger, though, skating to 152 for four with more than 20 overs to spare.

Leamington 4ths began their Cotswold Hills Division Five campaign with a crushing ten-wicket win over Winchcombe 2nds.

Batting first, Winchcombe struggled in the face of fine bowling from debutants Craig Patterson and Steve Axcell (3-10), before rebuilding through Dear (45) and Andrews (27).

The spin trimuvirate of James Wilson (2-19), Mark Ryan (3-33) and Wayne Killian (1-25) then wrested the initiative back in Leamington’s favour as Winchcombe were dismissed for 139.

Leamington’s openers set about the target with gusto.

Billy Hallett, batting with a broken hand, desposited the bowling to all parts, while Mark Reynolds played second fiddle, rotating the strike with elan.

Hallett ended on 106 not out and Reynolds 22 as Leamington breezed to a ten-wicket win with more than half of their allocated overs remaining.