NICK Thomas’s half-century and two wickets for leg-spinner James Cooper provided the highlights for Bedworth from their 95-run Warwickshire Premier League defeat at Coventry and North Warwickshire, writes Paul Smith.
Cooper’s excellent effort in support of tight spells from Fizz Abdullah, Max Page and Josh Thomas meant that none of the champions-elect’s long batting line-up reached 50.
However, with six players passing 20 and wicket-keeper Marco Higgins top-scoring with an unbeaten 49, CNW posted a challenging 251 for seven.
All-rounder Taran Toor then grabbed three wickets as Bedworth’s response slipped to 22 for four before Nick Thomas made 61 and Josh Thomas an aggressive 45 as the visitors were bowled out for 156.
With Moseley Ashfield and Bablake both losing again Bedworth need 15 points from their final three games to be certain of playing top-flight Warwickshire League cricket again next summer.
“Coventry are a good side, they’re top of the league for a reason,” captain Abdul Hafeez said.
“We were also hindered by losing Finn Haynes, Scott Friswell and Waqar Dad to illness in the 48 hours before Saturday.
“Drawing positives from the game we took good wickets at key times with James, Max and Josh all bowling well.
“We were hopeful of keeping them to 200 at one stage but they have plenty of depth and managed to reach 250.
“Nick is only 17 and he played really well for his 60 before Josh also played some good shots late on.
“We hope to have a full=strength side when we are at home to Solihull Municipal next week and it would be nice to settle things with a win then.”
After Abdullah claimed the early wicket of Manish Kamboj, former Bedworth opener Will Iles (28) and Shivam Bhambri (36) added 76 for the home side’s second wicket.
Josh Thomas’ fine spell was capped off with the prized scalp of the Indian pro who had made a superb 150 when the sides met at Miners’ Welfare Park in the Spring.
Toor (22) and Nathan Biggs (28) both got starts, but with spinners Cooper and Page keeping things tight, runs were hard to come by until Higgins launched a late onslaught.
In the company of the experienced Harry Horsley (23no), Coventry’s keeper hit two sixes and five fours in his unbeaten 38-ball 49. This enabled the home side’s eighth wicket pair to add 72 runs in quick time while boosting their team beyond 250.
Abdullah finished with 1-35 from nine tidy overs while Josh Thomas claimed 1-35 from eight, but it was spinners Cooper (2-28) and Page (1-34) that really caught the eye amongst Bedworth’s seven-man attack.
Needing 252 the visitors were soon really struggling as Toor claimed the early wickets of Page, Raksy Puppala and Hafeez while veteran seamer Horsley dismissed Ryan Parnell.
But from the most unpromising of positions at 22 for four Joe Cullinane (11) helped 17-year-old Nick Thomas add 56 for the fifth wicket.
Thomas was eventually seventh out for a 63-ball 61 containing 11 boundaries but enough time remained for Josh Thomas to clear the ropes twice while making 45 from 57 balls.
Two late run outs did little for Bedworth’s cause, and when Thomas became the second of these the visitors were bowled out for 156 in 42.4 overs.
Medium-pacer Toor finished with 3-39 while Sameer Vohra and Saddam Hussain claimed two wickets apiece for Coventry.
