South Staffs League: Leaders Hammerwich extend advantage after rivals slip-up

Their crushing 154-run win at Lichfield, coupled with Milford Hall’s defeat at Fordhouses, has seen them open up an 18-point advantage at the top of the Premier Division with just four matches left to play.

Hammerwich’s victory had implications at the other end of the table, with bottom club Lichfield now 20 points from safety after resurgent Cannock won at Walsall to climb out of the drop zone.

It was skipper Callum Brodrick who led the way for Hammerwich, winning the toss and then top scoring with 97 after choosing to bat first.

Scott Elstone also contributed 87 and Imran Qadir 60 as the leaders racked up 335-6 from their 50 overs.

A fine team bowling performance then saw the home side bowled out for just 181. Sajid Ahmadzai removed both openers and though Daniel Caddick showed some resistance with an impressive 74, he was one of three wickets claimed by Thomas Spears.

With Elstone also backing up his display with the bat by taking two scalps of his own, it fittingly fell to Brodrick to take the final wicket to secure victory.

Victory guaranteed Hammerwich would remain top but the day got even better when news of Mildford’s defeat filtered through.

Fordhouses’ total of 266 was built largely on the 70 scored by opener Mubeen Rashid, though the hosts were also helped by the visitors bowling 23 wides.

Milford's reply was quickly in trouble as Johar Ahmed and Adam Peat claimed two wickets each to leave them 27-4. Though Douglas Hughes (53) joined skipper Jordan Bulpitt to add 88 for the fifth wicket, their departures in quick succession left the visitors in a hole they could not escape as they were eventually bowled out for 180.

Fordhouses, who sit third in the table, will be aiming to cause further disruption to the title race next weekend when they visit Hammerwich.

At the other end of the table, Cannock have destiny in their own hands after claiming just their second win of the season in a low-scoring contest at Walsall.

Muhammad Sultan’s 60 was key to the visitors reaching and while the total might not have been huge, it proved sufficient thanks to an excellent team bowling performance.

Seamers Ryan Elliott and Jamie Bye both picked up early wickets before Daniel Wood, who finished with match-best figures of 4-23, tore through the middle order as Walsall were bowled out for 119.

Wolverhampton seconds replaced Cannock in the bottom two after they were beaten in a last-ball thriller by Penkridge.

George Margetts struck 84 and James Turner 75 as Wolves reached 288-8 from their 50 overs and they looked favourites to win when the visitors lost their ninth wicket with 22 runs still required and only 16 balls remaining.

But the last wicket pair of Myles Davis and Alfie Morris edged Penkridge over the line, the former hitting the winning single off the final ball of the match.

Beacon are up to fourth after an 80-run win over Tamworth seconds which featured superb centuries from Oliver Green (125 not out) and Jake Cartwright (111), the latter following it up with three wickets.

Gurshan Singh took four wickets and then scored 101 from 102 balls as Pelsall chased down 145 to beat Wombourne by six wickets.