IT WAS a dismal weekend for Droitwich as all four Saturday sides suffered defeats.
Despite an improved batting display, Spa’s Firsts are now just four points off the bottom of the Worcestershire County League Division One table and have slipped into the relegation zone following their 60-run loss at Worcester – a result compounded by victories for fellow strugglers Belbroughton and Oldswinford.
Droitwich enjoyed the better of the early exchanges as the controlled seam bowling of Max Young and Phil Thomas, whose 10 overs cost just 13 runs, gave the visitors the upper hand until a pivotal fourth-wicket stand between captain Mohammed Adeel and Ian Cottrill swung the momentum back in Worcester’s favour.
They put on 73 runs with former Spa player Cottrill’s experience coming to the fore in an important innings of 45.
When both batsmen were dismissed in quick succession, Droitwich had high hopes of keeping Worcester under 200 but those were soon shattered when Chris Steele knocked 40 off just 15 balls to take his side to 251-9 from 50 overs.
Spa’s aspirations to build a good platform in reply were soon in tatters as their first three wickets fell with only 12 on the board.
A determined stand between Aussie Jordan Renau and left-hander Paul Bryan partly recovered the innings but both departed in the chase for runs for 43 and 21 respectively.
At 104-6, the match was effectively over although some pride was restored with cameos from Phil Thomas, Carl Thomson and Jack Eaton.
A poor bowling performance saw the Seconds gift Avoncroft their first victory of the season at St Peter’s Fields.
The visitors racked up 261-6 from their 50 overs with 75 runs apiece for Mark Wood and Mark Whitehead.
Jon Bird then claimed 6-32 as Droitwich fell 18 runs short although Jack Sealey made 49 on his first appearance of the season.
Stourbridge’s brothers-in-arms Steve and Dave Colesby were the torment of Droitwich Thirds in a 100-run success.
The former scored an unbeaten 94 as the home side totalled 229-4 – Ash Walton was the pick of the bowlers with 2-15 from his nine overs.
Dave then vanquished the memories of being hit for six sixes in one over the previous weekend by claiming 5-9 – his first scalp being top-scorer Scott Fenn (39).
Jordan Lewis was the only not out batsman – his career-best 31 including two towering sixes.
In the reverse Fourths fixture between the same sides, Spa were unable to overhaul Stourbridge’s 185-7.
Matt Gurr hit 41 as Droitwich went down by 30 runs.
This weekend, Droitwich Firsts will be aiming to return to winning ways when they host Pedmore, the Seconds face the long trek to Herefordshire side Wormelow while Tenbury Wells face the Thirds and Fourths.
