Oswestry 334-5 beat Harborne 284 all out by 50 runs

RYAN Lockley proved the difference as Oswestry opened their Birmingham League Two campaign with a 50 run win at Harborne.

Oswestry lost openers Warrick Fynn and Josh Darley cheaply before Lockley revived the innings alongside Matthew Richards in a 162 run third wicket stand.

Richards finally fell, caught by Karan Bharaj off Tom Payne for 56, to leave Oswestry on 185-3.

Fellow debutant David Laird kept the scoreboard ticking over alongside Lockley with a 108 run fourth wicket stand before being caught by Bharaj off Swapnip Gugale for 50.

Lockley guided Oswestry to a commanding 334-5 to defend with an unbeaten innings of 156.

Harborne began brightly in reply with Tom Arnold (26) and Gugale (56) guiding their side to 133 before falling to Harry Darley and Ben Roberts.

While Payne looked to maintain the run rate the home order was picked off by Fynn before Payne was finally caught by Josh Darley off Roberts (2-76).

Fynn maintained the pressure and by the time he completed his 5-42 the home side were left on 250-8 with Guriq Randhawa leading the middle order resistance.

However Laird (1-64) and a second wicket of the day for Harry Darley (2-16) left Randhawa unbeaten on 34 and Harborne all out for 284.