JOSH Manning’s 99 not out helped BABLAKE OLD BOYS comfortably beat Highway in the return fixture between the Warwickshire Premier League Coventry Clubs.
Highway won the toss and elected to field but the Bablake top order never really kicked on with the exception of Tom Betts who scored 30, but it was Manning who caused Highway 99 problems.
A couple of 20s at the end from Steve Swaffield and Thomas Cowley saw Bablake reach 256 for 9 in their 50 overs.
In reply, Highway were all out for 136 in the 37th over, with only Lester Gibson (40) and Stuart Garry (26) offering any resistance.
All bowlers chipped in with Asif Khan and Lee Leatherland taking three wickets each helping to seal a convincing 120-run victory.
Afterwards, skipper Tom Cowley praised an almost complete performance and believed the only thing missing was a deserved hundred for Manning.
Nevertheless another 24 points in the quest for a big finish to the season for Bablake see them move to within four points of Highway in the table.
Elsewhere, in the Birmingham League Division Two, Coventry & North Warwickshire continued their rise up the table after picking up 17 points from their home clash against Stratford-upon-Avon.
After losing the toss and being put in to bat first, Coventry made a positive start with openers Zuhaib Akhlaque and Matthew Naylor making big contributions.
Coventry reached 106 before Akhlaque was eventually bowled by Perry Derrick on 58, and Derrick celebrated the second wicket of the match after getting Matthew Taylor out for 82.
Derrick collected his hat-trick after dismissing Jonathan Miles for 45 with the home side on 226 for 3 and later contributions from Amrinder Singh Brar (56 not out) and Greg Ricketts (10 not out) helped Coventry reach 266 for 3 from 55 overs.
