BOWLERS SHINE IN HIMLEY VICTORY

For the second time in a week Himley’s bowlers shined as they recorded a much needed first league win of the season. They were once again accurate and disciplined not allowing Oswestry’s batters any opportunity to send the ball to the boundary. It was very much a team bowling effort which saw Oswestry dismissed for 171. The batters then made a great start to the chase as the team went in search of their first 20 points of the season. When Billal Hussain was dismissed at 96-1 Himley were well in control, other than losing their captain a couple of overs later, they remained unscathed and completed their victory by 8 wickets.  

​It was another fresh April day on Saturday for clash between Himley and Oswestry. A game which Himley needed to win after losing their first two league games. However, they were buoyed by a win against local rivals Wolverhampton in mid-week and went into the game with a spring in their step. After winning the toss Himley inserted Oswestry knowing that early wickets were crucial on what looked like a pitch that might offer the bowlers some assistance.  

Jamie Turner took the vital wicket of Oswestry’s most important player Warrick Fynn in the third over. He was caught at backward point by a great sharp catch by Ollie Walker. Matt Jeavons enjoyed an impressive opening spell, he bowled with great control and took a further two wickets which left Oswestry struggling at 32-3. The opening bowlers set the tone but it was back up impressively by the whole attack. Jamie Lunn bowled an exceptional spell of 10-0-19-2 which kept the pressure on.  

Oswestry did make a recovery and they went from 67-5 to 141-5. As they looked to up the anti towards the latter end of their innings Dan Vernon and Ben Robinson bowled well to ensure they didn’t get any momentum to make it a tricky chase. Vernon picked up 4-22 and Robinson 1-49 as they were all out in the last over of the innings for 171.

The chase began in great fashion with Ollie Westbury and Billal Hussain moving to 67-0 after the first 10 overs. Billal played some exquisite cover drives before he was dismissed for 46 at just under a run a ball. The only drawback from a successful day at the office was the dismissals over both openers who were both guilty of giving up their wickets with some daft cricket. When Callum Lea and Ollie Walker came together Himley still needed a further 63 runs to win. The played maturely and responsibly to both register red inkers and finish the game off.  

It was a very good weekend for the club. An important first win for the first team but more importantly 5 out of the 6 senior teams registered victories. There were some noticeable contributions; Sam Cookson took 4-30 & made 41 for the threes whilst Ben Hopkins made 112* and Ali Latif made 85 for the 5ths! 

The first team will be looking for back-to-back victories when they travel to Wem next weekend. 

Cricket Fan.