CRICKET: BABLAKE Old Boys edged a thriller at home to Highway Spartans on Saturday afternoon when winning the Warwickshire Premier Division clash by a single run.
The game looked lost to Bablake when Highway tailender Dhyan Patel added 13 to the final wicket after the visiting side were reduced to 175/9.
But with two more runs needed to claim victory, and just one for a draw, Patel was caught off the bowling of Sam Eames – meaning Bablake won by the smallest of margins.
Saturday’s game started promisingly for Bablake as Luke De Souza, who took the winning catch, reached his half century and added a further 12 runs to his tally before being bowled by Josh Bains for 62.
Joshua Manning and Rakibul Hassan also fell to the bowling of Bains before some solid middle order batting from Hussain, Pyott, and Ali guided Bablake to 192/4 from 37.4 overs.
In reply, Highway made a disastrious start when Billy Dyal was caught by skipper Thomas Cowley off the bowling of Hassan for just one run.
Ivory and Moynihan added 51 runs for the second wicket, but the visitors collapsed from 54/1 to 55/5 as Doak-Smith and Garry both fell for ducks while Miller could only add six runs to the cause.
Tom Yardley’s efforts with the bat helped Highway past the three figure mark.
Wickets fell at regular intervals though and soon Bablake needed just one wicket with 17 runs still needed after Yardley and Bains fell in quick succession.
It was only until Patel was caught by De Souza while Highway were on 191 that Bablake wrapped up a much-needed victory which keeps them in touch with mid-table rivals Barby and Standard.
