CRICKET - Bedworth slip to defeat aganst rivals Bablake - The Coventry Observer

CRICKET - Bedworth slip to defeat aganst rivals Bablake

Coventry Editorial 5th Aug, 2022   0

BEDWORTH slipped to a disappointing 81-run Warwickshire Premier League defeat at local rivals Bablake despite an impressive spell from skipper Abdul Hafeez, writes Paul Smith.

The former Worcestershire all-rounder claimed 3-32 from 12 tidy overs of off-spin but was unable to prevent half-centuries from Amaan Khan and Tom Yardley steering the home side to 230 for nine.

Ryan Parnell and Max Page then got the visitors’ off to a good start with a half-century opening partnership only for the introduction of Josh Bains and Matt McCarthy to turn the contest on its head.

The home spinners shared seven wickets to leave Bedworth reeling at 94 for seven after which some lower-order defiance from James Cooper and Harry Edgar only delayed the end for a visiting side that was eventually bowled out in the 46th over for 149.




This result leaves Bedworth in tenth place in the table where a substantial 43-point cushion still protects them from Moseley Ashfield and Bablake who inhabit the relegation zone.

“It was a disappointing day – we were hoping to pick up a win but it wasn’t to be,” Hafeez said.


“We’re in one of those spells at the moment where nothing seems to be going our way.

“On a worn pitch with lots of spin and one very short boundary they batted extremely well.

“I was very impressed by Amaan then after he was out Tom Yardley’s quickfire 50 got them past 200 and took them into the break with plenty of momentum.

“We then got off to a good start with the bat with Ryan Parnell playing well again but their two spinners bowled very well on a pitch which offered plenty of help and we lost wickets regularly.

“We’re better suited to the win/lose format which we play in the remaining six games of the season so hopefully we can pick up a few wins.”

After opting to bat first the hosts lost an early wicket to the in-form Fizz Abdullah before left-handed opener Ross Arnold dominated the early stages of their innings with a 70-ball 49.

However, the introduction of Hafeez brought immediate dividends for Bedworth as his dismissals of Arnold, Ruari Willis and McCarthy reduced Bablake to 95 for four.

Dipesh Patel (23) then joined forces with Amaan in a useful 49-run fifth-wicket alliance before Yardley’s arrival brought a sharp increase in the home side’s run rate.

The all-rounder helped the hosts add 69 for their sixth wicket before Amaan was dismissed for a 74-ball 57 containing six boundaries.

With some useful support from the lower order, Yardley went on to steer Bablake beyond 200 before being ninth out in the final over for a breezy 55 which contained three sixes and five fours.

Finn Haynes took 2-45 while Abdullah, Cooper and Josh Thomas took a wicket apiece in support of their skipper’s fine spell.

This left Bedworth chasing 230, a target which Parnell (35) and Page (15) reduced by 54 before both fell to Josh Bains.

When Bains quickly also claimed Haynes’ wicket and McCarthy chipped in with the scalps of Ross Parnell, Hafeez and Raksy Puppala (27) the visitors had lost six wickets for 35 and were struggling.

Wicket-keeper Edgar then led a display of lower-order defiance by grafting his way through 18 overs while making 22, and he received good support from Cooper who finished with an unbeaten 17.

However, the introduction of seventh bowler Willis eventually brought Bablake the breakthrough they sought and when the returning Yardley then trapped Waqar Dad in front the hosts had secured the spoils.

McCarthy finished with 3-23 while Bains claimed 4-31 from their 12-over spells.

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