Sam Butcher holds nerve as Pelsall win again

Butcher, who at the age of 17 is playing his debut season in the first-team, claimed 4-42 to help Pelsall edge out their promotion rivals by just five runs and claim an eighth win in nine matches.

Penkridge looked on course to take a win which would have blown the title race wide open when they sat on 262-6, needing just 14 more for victory.

But Butcher snared the vital wicket of visiting skipper Laeq Chisti (63), before then removing Sam Smith to clinch victory in the final over.

Skipper Danny Penell said: “They needed seven off the final over but I had absolutely no hesitation in giving Sam the ball.

“He’s got a cool head on his shoulders and has continually produced this season.

“When we needed him to win us the game on Saturday, he came through.”

Penell also played his part in the dramatic finish by taking the wicket of Attiq Chisti, whose run-a-ball 100 had appeared to put Penkridge in the driving seat.

But with victory apparently there for the taking, they stumbled, Kashif Hussain also being run out by a fine piece of fielding from Pelsall’s Todd Henderson.

The latter had earlier been one of three players to hit half centuries as the hosts racked up a total of 275 from their 50 overs.

Opener Johan Maritz top scored with 64 from 44 balls, while Tom Boyd struck 53 from 46 lower down the order.

The win saw Pelsall open up a 31-point lead at the summit but with eight games remaining, Penell is taking nothing for granted.

“There is still a long way to go,” he said. “We are more than happy with our form, winning eight out of nine.

“But this league is so competitive, you can easily lose two or three on the bounce if you lose focus.”

Pelsall face another stern test this weekend when they visit second-placed Beacon, where the hosts will be aiming to bounce back from a 29-run defeat to Milford Hall, one of the other teams in a tightly-bunched chasing pack.

Set a revised target of 268 to win from 42 overs in a rain-affected match, Beacon were bowled out for 238, Sahal Malvernkar claiming 5-53 for the visitors.

Milford Hall, who sit fifth, had earlier compiled 241-5 before their innings was brought to a premature close, teenage ace Ibbadat Thaman continuing his fine season with a blistering 137 not out from 114 balls.

Just seven points now separate Beacon in second from Penkridge in sixth.

Brewood, in fourth, sit right in the middle of the group, after beating Hammerwich by 57 runs in a low-scoring affair.

Batting first, the home side were indebted to Dave Wedge, whose unbeaten 34 from just 24 balls helped propel them from 108-8 to 169 all out, after Matthew Deyzel had ripped through the top order on route to claiming 5-32.

The significance of Wedge’s cameo became clear later when William Marsh took 7-25 for Brewood, as Hammerwich were bowled out for just 112 in reply.