Birmingham and District Cricket League Division Three
Oswestry v Tamworth
OSWESTRY Cricket Club captain Mark Robinson is appealing for the support of the town as his side prepares for the most important match in the club's history this weekend.
Oswestry, who lie third in Division Three of the Birmingham League, take on leaders Brewood at Morda Road on Saturday and a win could see them overtake the visitors to earn the top spot with just one more game left.
Robinson's side won a dramatic game against Tamworth on Saturday - another team chasing promotion - in front of a big home crowd and the Oswestry captain believes the support the team received from the sidelines played a major part in the victory.
"The support was great - it was like having an extra man," said Robinson, "The Third and Fourth teams had finished their games by the end, which swelled the numbers watching and when things were getting tight it made all the difference.
"It would be great to think we could get even more people down to watch the Brewood game this weekend," he added.
The town's win against Tamworth was even more impressive as 12 overs were lost to rain at the halfway stage of the game.
The home side, asked to bat by Tamworth, made 239-8 in their 55 overs, with Alex Huxley (59) and Warrick Fynn (58) leading the way. Jonathan Miles hit an unbeaten 26 in just eight minutes and added valuable runs at the end of the innings with Paul Phillips (24 not out).
Rain at tea meant Tamworth's innings was reduced to 43 overs and the visitors were given a revised 'winning draw' target of 187.
Danger-man Mike Talbot got the innings off to a flying start with 43, but once he was dismissed by Miles wickets began to fall. Fynn weighed in with three crucial wickets and Robinson with two, but it was left to Miles - in great form at the moment - to finish things off with the last two wickets as Tamworth were bowled out for 181. The Clarke brothers, Joe and Robbie, held three catches each, Joe behind the stumps and Robbie in the deep.
HOPES of winning the Birmingham League 2nd XI Division Two (North) were boosted for Oswestry Seconds on Saturday, with a 93-run win at Fordhouses and on a day when all four Oswestry teams won for the third time in six weeks.
Nick Williams (63 not out) and skipper Steve Humphreys (52) were the main contributors in Oswestry's 233-7, with Dominic Bright hitting 21 and Ben Parker-Marshall 20no.
Ian Davies then took 4-42, Charlie Morris 3-15 and Ollie Clarke 2-34, as Fordhouses were bowled out for 140.
Humphreys' side are 21 points clear at the top of the table with two games left and need a further 28 points to clinch the title.
THIS Saturday sees Oswestry's big game against Brewood at Morda Road (noon), while Oswestry Seconds travel to Brewood. The Thirds take on Harcourt at Oswestry School, while the Fourths visit Allscott Thirds.