AFTER four weeks of inactivity due to the heavy rain, Newbold 2nds finally launched their Warwickshire League Single Teams Division Two East season at home against Pak Shaheen on Saturday.
A thrilling contest had all three results possible going into the final few balls but it was the visitors who came out on top, winning by one wicket.
Whilst the 2nds did see some action, the news was not so good for the 1sts who saw their Single Teams Division One East trip to Knowle Village 3rds called off on Friday night due to a waterlogged pitch.
Batting first, Newbold found runs hard to come by against a lively attack and they soon found themselves in trouble, falling to 26-3.
Henry Neal and debutant Dion Roberts came together to put on a useful stand of 38 that was ended when the latter was bowled.
Neal soon followed in similar style for 12 but Hugh Evans came to the crease and occupied it well to top score with an unbeaten 26, ensuring Newbold saw their overs out at 120-9.
In similar style to Newbold, Pak Shaheen found themselves in trouble at the start of their reply as they crashed to 34-4 with young opening bowler Paul Higham picking up three of the wickets to fall.
The visitors seized the initiative from that point though and some aggressive batting by Adil and Sham led to a 50 partnership, though they were aided by some dropped catches.
Roberts picked up his third catch to break the partnership when holding a skier and quickly repeated the feat to put the game back in the balance.
Wickets continued to fall and when Pak Shaheen found themselves 119-9, three results were still possible. A scampered single tied the scored before a lusty four saw the visitors to a dramatic victory.
Newbold's bowling attack stuck gamely to their task without too many runs to play with as Dave Cheney and Muktar Mohammad each took a wicket on an afternoon where neither had much luck. Zaffar Kkokkar and Oliver Baham chipped in with two wickets apiece to aid three wicket man Higham.
1 Sir Alex Ferguson gives up on dream of beating Rugby
2 Mr Rugby Jordan Williams wins Mr England title
3 Tributes paid to TV auctioneer David Barby
OAKFIELD'S Warwickshire League Division Four campaign began in
DAVID Newton celebrated victory as Rugby RCC held
COVENTRY Triathletes are busy organising the city’s very
Lutterworth 41 Market Harborough 7 Leicestershire County Bowl
A TAME batting display saw Coventry and North Warwickshire fall ...
YOUNG netballers in Solihull are looking forward to summer holiday ...
SOME of the most powerful amateur boxers in the country ...
THERE has been an encouraging start to the road racing ...
