3rd XI
Matches
Sat 25 May 2019  ·  Division Twelve (South/East)
Redditch CC - Redditch Entaco 4th Xl
106/8
107/0
Five Ways Old Edwardians CC
3rd XI
Ruthless Zain Zaps Redditch!

Ruthless Zain Zaps Redditch!

Iain Wingfield26 May 2019 - 16:56
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Redditch Entaco 106 all out, FWOE 3rd XI 107-0, FWOE won by 10 wickets

A superb spell of bowling by Zain Arif that ripped the heart out of the Redditch middle order paved the way to a comfortable victory for Ways, revenge for last week’s narrow defeat. Ways were stronger this week, especially in the bowling, and Redditch weaker, with only nine players, and once the third wicket was taken, their batting had little answer to Zain’s pace and accuracy.
Ian Garrett lost the toss and Redditch chose to bat. The innings began dramatically with Molly Burke falling and twisting her ankle with the second ball of the game, leaving Mark Butcher to complete the over. Molly then returned however, to bowl an excellent spell, completing a further four overs for just four runs, and taking the first wicket when she bowled Newitt with a well pitched up swinging delivery. It was some time before Ways struck again, as Ottley and Oakley took the score to 41. Oakely had some good fortune, a top-edged pull from Liam Hill’s bowling landing just between two fielders, and Mark Butcher dropping a very sharp return catch, but he also struck the ball powerfully enough through the leg side to reach the boundary seven times during his innings, despite the long grass that made boundary hitting difficult. Liam Hill, still struggling with no balls, produced a good one to york Ottley, but then young Mohammed stayed with Oakley as Redditch looked to be building a decent foundation. That all changed once Zain came into the attack. With the score 71, he put one through a loose drive from Oakley (Redditch’s top scorer with 37), and then swept through the rest of the batting line up. Adam Sharp, the Redditch captain, struck some well timed shots straight and through midwicket to finish 29 not out, but no one could give him support. Redditch sank from 71-3 when Oakley was dismissed to 106 all out, as Zain’s pace, accuracy and movement was far too much for the Redditch youngsters. At one stage, Zain took three wickets in four balls, honing in on leg stump, and then finished the innings by putting a vicious inswinger through Baylee to complete outstanding figures of 6-10 in 5.1 overs, every victim bowled.
Given a good start, the target was not demanding. Esham bowled well, but Blaynee’s slow left armers were erratic in length, and Mark Butcher put him through the leg side for a brace of twos and fours in the second over, Abib Abid got under way in Blaynee’s next over with a big drive for four, and from 23-0 after four overs, the result was never in any doubt. Mark Butcher played the dominant role, particularly powerful off both front and back foot through the leg side, and Abib supported intelligently. The fifty came up in the twelfth over, and three boundaries in an over from Duggan took Mark to his fifty. By now, victory was certain, and the openers coasted past the hundred stand, and took the scores level in the 21st over. At this point, Oakley bowled only the second maiden of the innings, but in the next over, another leg side hit from Mark Butcher took us to our target, and an emphatic victory. Mark finished on 69*, Abib 29*.
This was an excellent performance. To be fair, Redditch were significantly weaker than last week, but you can only beat what’s in front of you. Once again, effort and commitment in the field was outstanding, the bowling was very good with Zain the standout, and a century undefeated opening stand capped a fine display. The thirds are coming together well – next week’s dilemma will be who to leave out, and 3rd XI captains are not often in that position.
Player of the Match – Zain Arif.

Report by Ian Garrett

Match details

Match date

Sat 25 May 2019

Kickoff

13:30

Meet time

13:00

Instructions

12:30 meet at Masshouse, or 13:00 at the ground. 20 minutes travel time from Masshouse.

Competition

Division Twelve (South/East)

League position

4
Redditch CC - Redditch Entaco 4th Xl
5
Five Ways Old Edwardians CC - 3rd XI
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Shirt Sponsor - Senior Section - Rock Compliance Ltd
Kit Supplier - Cicada Sports