A COMPLETE batting performance sealed Droitwich Spa a three-wicket win over Worcestershire County League Division One table-toppers Coombs Wood as they chased down 257 in a thrilling last over finish.
Martyn Davies and Max Young set Spa on their way in a confident opening stand of 111 in 25 overs – both batsmen mixing flair and intelligence before each being dismissed LBW for 63 and 64 respectively.
A very composed 41 from youngster Kieran Wilkins kept the scoreboard ticking over until he was unfortunately run out in a mix up.
With the game in the balance, skipper Ian Cottrill then took control with a commanding knock of 35 not out and was aided by the calmness of Carl Thomson which left the hosts needing five runs from the final over.
Following a dot ball from the first delivery, the fantastic win was clinched in somewhat bizarre fashion with an erratic, head-height no ball which flew to the boundary.
Earlier Davies and Young combined to good effect with the ball before Spa’s nemesis of recent seasons, Dan Jones, continued to haunt his opponents once again.
After being given a life in his 30s, Wood’s captain hit the ball with increasing power and helped the visitors to take nearly 100 from the last 10 overs.
He finished unbeaten on 110 but it couldn’t prevent his side losing this exciting contest.
Davies was the pick of the bowlers with 2-38 as Spa moved up to seventh in the table.
In the reverse Division One Second XI fixture, a disappointing bowling display resulted in a 37-run win for Coombs Wood as Spa failed to chase down their rain revised target of 248 in 40 overs, despite 71 from captain Karl Goddard and a hard-hitting 50 from Dan Cottrill.
In Division Five, an excellent 86 from Mark Smith could not prevent the Thirds going down from a nine-wicket defeat against high-flying Highley.
The Fourths leapfrogged Worcester in Division Seven with a five-wicket win over their near neighbours as Jack Eaton rifled 68.
On Saturday the Firsts take on Enville, the Seconds and Thirds face home games against Feckenham and Cutnall Green respectively while the Fourths head to Hagley.