RUGBY CC rounded off a disappointing season with a five-wicket win against Stratford-upon-Avon as they finished the Warwickshire County League in ninth place.
After Rugby’s returning captain Matt Ewer won the toss and elected to bowl first, the home side struggled to make the most of the damp wicket early on.
Stratford openers Dexter Purser (74) and Josh Hickman (29) put on 65 runs for the first wicket before a double strike from Kasir Shah (2-28) turned the game in Rugby’s favour.
Rugby’s bowlers dominated thereafter as wickets fell at regular intervals with Danny Sadiq (3-34), Wes Landsdale (2-23), Lee Golding (2-39) and Owen Edwards (1-9) bowling Stratford out for 159 as Henry Parker took a sensational catch for the final wicket.
In reply, Rugby made a terrible start as Hugh Cochrane (4), Parker (8) and Jeevan Barhey (0) were all dismissed cheaply to leave the home side on 21-3.
However, Landsdale (53) and Edwards (42) produced an excellent 70-run fourth-wicket partnership to steady the innings.
And despite Edwards’ contentious dismissal, after being caught off his pad, Landsdale and Kyle Taylor (28 not out) continued to score runs.
Landsdale eventually fell late in the run chase, when he was trapped lbw, as captain Ewer hit a match-winning six to secure victory with 15 overs remaining.
And Rugby’s 2nd XI secured promotion from Division Five in style with a comprehensive eight-wicket win against Streetly 2nds.
Streetly opted to bat first on a wet wicket and failed to recover from a slow start that saw them slip to 8-3 after 14 overs.
Sujahn Barhey (4-11) and Aravind Katragadda (3-9) were the chief wicket takers with James Nuttall (2-17) and Bhavik Rathod (1-17) also striking to skittle Streetly for a measly 54 all out.
And despite losing Charlie Robards (1) and Rathod (0) early in their reply, Lee James (40 not out) and Nuttall (16 not out) secured promotion for Rugby with the former batter hitting a six to win the contest after just 9.2 overs.
