Staffs Cricket League: Leaders survive scare to maintain narrow advantage at summit

The Premier Division leaders, put into bat by their visitors, lost skipper Jordan Bulpitt to the third ball of the match and were in trouble at 54-5.

But a half century from Stuart Phazey, coupled with important contributions from Clark Haddrell (35) and Aaron Afford (25 not out), helped the hosts recover to post 212-9.

That ultimately proved more than enough as Lichfield were unable to make the most of strong knocks from Stuart Fielding (61) and Daniel Caddick (53). 

When the latter was the fourth wicket to fall with the score on 123, it sparked a collapse which saw them bowled out for just 141 to suffer their 12th defeat in 15 league matches.

For Hammerwich the day was far more straightforward as they thrashed Walsall by nine wickets.

William Mashinge was left stranded on 99 not out as the visitors finished on 172-9 from their 50 overs, a total which never looked like troubling the home side. Imran Qadir scored an unbeaten 85 at close to a run-a-ball, with skipper Callum Brodrick 59 not out at the finish.

While things were relatively straightforward in the end for the top two, Fordhouses lost ground as they were pipped in a thriller by Tamworth despite both their opening batters scoring centuries.

Niall Cooper’s 130 from just 118 balls and Mubeen Rashid’s unbeaten 101 helped them reach 276-2 with skipper Jem Stack then taking the decision to declare after 42 overs.

That looked a smart decision when the visitors fell to 116-5 but the match was turned on its head by Jordan Brooks, who hit six sixes on his way to scoring 113 from just 75 balls to bring them roaring back into the contest.

His dismissal, with just eight runs required for victory, sparked a further twist as two quick wickets fell to leave Fordhouses just one more away from the win. 

James Cooper, having scored just two off his first 21 balls, struck the four which got Tamworth over the line.

Fourth-placed Wombourne were unable to take full advantage of Fordhouses’ slip-up as they could only manage a losing draw at home to Penkridge.

Half centuries from Amaan Hassan and Mark Pearse helped the visitors reach 256-8 and their bowlers then did a fine job of frustrating the home side’s top order.

From 183-3, wickets fell regularly as Wombourne tried to bring down the run rate and they ultimately finished short, on 235-9. Hassan capped an impressive all-round match by taking three wickets, as did Dean Lones and William Marsh.

Beacon were able to cut the gap on the top four after winning a low-scoring thriller at Pelsall.

When Matthew Cartwright took a five-fer and Stephen Blews snared four wickets to dismiss the hosts for 101, victory looked a formality.

But the visitors then found themselves in huge trouble at 25-6 as Smit Mehta (4-37) and Todd Henderson (4-43) tore through the top order.

Blews confirmed his man-of-the-match status by hitting 46 off 35 balls to power his team over the line, with the help of an unbeaten 29 from Josh Chesworth.

In a big game at the bottom of the table, Cannock are now 23 points from safety after losing by 42 runs to Wolverhampton seconds.