Gallant chase in loss (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Gallant chase in loss

LOWLY Nuneaton defeated Evesham by 16 runs despite a valiant run chase by Saturday's Birmingham League hosts.

Barry Clements asked the visitors to bat and Will Bailey took a wicket with his first ball.

He struck again shortly afterwards before young Chris Pennell inflicted more damage as his spell of 3-9 helped reduce Nuneaton to 81-6 after 28 overs.

However, the visitors fought back and a seventh wicket stand of 99 proved crucial in the context of the game.

An injury to Neal Radford didn't help the home side's cause although Ian Stowe produced a good spell of 4-35 late onas the visitors subsided to 187 all out.

The loss of three early wickets left Evesham with a huge task but Clements, Neal Radford and Gary Lewis set about the task in fine fashion.

Radford, struggling with his injury, completed a remarkable half-century but, when he departed, there was only going to be one winner as the enterprising hosts still went for victory instead of settling for a draw.

The second string lost by eight wickets in the reverse fixture, while Sunday's league matches were washed out by the rain.

Division Three

P W D L A Pts

Penn 17 7 6 1 3 255

Kings Heath 17 7 5 3 2 239

Lichfield 17 6 8 2 1 225

Coleshill 17 7 4 4 2 218

St George's 17 4 5 6 2 198

Moseley Ashfield 17 6 4 5 2 197

Penkridge 17 5 6 3 3 187

Evesham 17 4 3 7 3 176

Redditch 17 5 3 5 4 174

Highway 17 4 3 8 2 159

Nuneaton 17 4 3 7 3 159

Olton & WW 17 2 2 10 3 105

Division Three 2nd XI

P W D L A Pts

Lichfield 17 8 5 1 3 249

Redditch* 16 8 4 2 1 238

Nuneaton 17 6 5 4 2 208

Old Elizabethans 17 8 1 5 3 205

Coleshill 17 5 8 3 1 203

Olton & WW 17 5 7 4 1 202

Studley 16 5 5 3 3 173

St George's 17 4 7 5 1 165

Penn 17 3 3 8 3 139

Solihull Bloss'fld* 17 2 5 7 2 135

Evesham 17 4 4 6 3 134

Highway 17 2 2 11 3 85

*Records include tied match.