RUGBY’s emphatic return to form in the Warwickshire League Premier Division continued as their opening bowlers decimated Coleshill’s batting line-up to set up a nine-wicket victory.
Owen Edwards won just his third toss in nine matches and had no hesitation in choosing to bowl first on a pitch that would clearly assist the bowlers.
He did not have to wait long for this decision to be backed up, as Lee Golding clean bowled Sunny Ahmed with the first ball of the match.
It was then over to Edwards himself, who bowled a hostile opening burst and claimed two more wickets in the fourth.
None of Coleshill’s batsmen were able to combat the swing and pace of Rugby’s opening attack, as both bowlers took full advantage of a surface that gave them plenty of assistance.
The bowlers were backed up well by some good catching and reduced Coleshill to 46 for 9.
Junaid Ahmed (17 not out) was the only batsmen to reach double figures adding 16 for the last wicket, before his side were all out for 62 from 19.2 overs.
Edwards claimed 6 for 21 from 9.2 overs while Golding chipped in as well with 4 for 32 from his ten overs.
Rugby’s new look opening partnership started well last week with runs against Bedworth and Asaad Qureshi and Rishi Tank showed exactly how to handle a lively track.
The pair were watchful early on, but punished anything loose when the bad balls came, slowly chipping away at Coleshill’s score.
They added 35, before Tank (24) was caught attempting a big drive, but they had dispelled any fears of a nervous run chase by this stage.
Qureshi (19 not out) and Matt Ewer (17 not out) eased Rugby home in the 15th over with nine wickets to spare, moving their side up to seventh in the table ahead of next week’s clash with Nuneaton.
