After a disappointing performance last week, missing several usual players, and languishing near the bottom of Division Three, skipper Iain Wingfield made it clear that an improvement – a big improvement – was required. This Five Ways delivered, an excellent performance in the field dismissing their opponents for a low total, and in the end, despite some wobbles en route, a comfortable victory was achieved.
Heavy overnight and morning rain and overcast conditions led Iain Wingfield to bowl on winning the toss. In fact, the pitch was dry and within ten overs, the sun was out and the rest of the day was bright and warm, and Alvechurch’s openers made steady progress through the first ten overs, not without some luck, especially against Sabir Ahamedzah, who deserved not to be wicketless. Iain Wingfield then nipped one back to bowl Mark Rollins – 32 for 1. From here on, the A&H innings grew increasingly becalmed, and wickets fell regularly as batsmen were tied down and then unavailingly went for the big shot to relieve the pressure. Dave Kendall struck in his first over, Beach, the only batsman to reach double figures, edging behind, and although that was his only wicket, he bowled with consistency and threat to achieve figures of 1-10 from 7. At the other end, Iain Wingfield’s movement and changes of pace saw him profit against a flaky middle order, another edge to Tony Potter from his final delivery leaving Iain with figures of 4-30 from a 12 over spell, and leaving A&H precariously placed at 53-5 at the drinks break.
The remaining wickets fell quickly. Haseeb Arif, on debut in the seconds, whilst struggling for accurate line at times, struck the stumps twice in his second over. Mo Bhanji then did what good spinners should, and polished off the tail. Having bowled Malik with a perfect leg break, he then took the last two wickets, an outside edge giving Ian Garrett a neat catch at slip, and a googly hitting middle to finish the innings.
A small target was nevertheless not straightforward, and both openers were dismissed cheaply by the nagging Jenkinson by the time an excellent tea was taken. After tea though, things started to move in 5W’s direction, three boundaries from Malik’s first over taking off some of the pressure, Chris Webber twice piercing the offside and four byes in addition. Malik then struck to dismiss Zoheen Ahmed thanks to an outstanding one handed catch in the gully by Bowron, but Chris Webber was now scoring well, continuing to punch through the offside then bringing up the 50 with a skimming six over midwicket from Jenkinson. Chris then fell next ball to an undignified heave, but now the target was close, and Abdul Ali, powerful through the leg side, and Tony Potter comfortably saw Ways home. This was indeed a much improved performance, which saw a first victory of the season and a return to mid table status.