HIMBLETON suffered their third straight defeat as Rushwick hung on for a thrilling win at the Meadow Ground.
Sean Jenkins made 52, while Alastair Pretty (47) and Mike Rogers (48) also chipped in with high scores to help put 244 on the board for Himbleton.
But Rushwick also had a trio of batsmen in fine form, with James Saunders and John Ingles making half centuries and Mark Groves top scoring with 78.
Mike Rogers and Jamie Alford combined to give Himbleton hope as they tore through Rushwick’s middle order, but the visitors just did enough to win by one wicket.
Despite being without captain Jon Critchlow, Himbleton started positively, with Stu Dickenson racing to 14 from the first two overs.
However, the opener was undone when he made the slightest of edges through to wicket-keeper Paul Wyatt.
Jenkins made a half century, but his defensive style meant Himbleton were always behind a run rate capable of posting a strong score.
Jenkins along with Pretty did push the hosts to three figures, but the hosts then suffered a collapse as 100–2 soon became 124–5.
Knowing a score of 250 was a minimum requirement, Jem Rose blossomed under pressure as he scored 26.
After Rose was caught behind by Wyatt, Rogers looked to impose his experience and went at Rushwick’s attack.
However, when former player Chris Pearman had Rogers caught in the deep, Brace (6) and Sammy Jenkins (5) came and went to leave Himbleton on 230-8.
In reply, Rushwick started poorly as Pearman was cleaned up by Rogers, who could have had a second soon after.
But Dickenson put down a difficult chance at first slip to give Ingles a second life and he made sure he took it.
The Rushwick man put together a match-changing partnership of 91 for the second wicket with Saunders, who limped to 58.
Rose showed his value to the side as he was able to bowl a controlling spell of eight overs which resulted in the wicket of Saunders.
Jenkins bowled his best spell of the season as he ended with figures of 0–33 from his ten overs but with Groves replacing Saunders, Rushwick only went from strength to strength.
With the score on 168-2, Himbleton needed wickets, so Pretty turned to Alford and he did not disappoint as he picked up two in two.
The re-introduction of Rogers ensured a thrilling finale to the match as he soon had Niwantha Indima caught behind before removing Groves to put Rushwick on 234-6.
Himbleton continued to attack and when a crazy run out was followed by wickets for Alford and Rogers they looked set for victory. But crucially they could not grab the last wicket as Rushwick hung on for a deserved win.
