CRICKET: BABLAKE Old Boys’ latest game was cut short after 71 overs of play, meaning they had to settle for a losing draw in Aston Manor.
The home side won the toss and inserted Bablake Old Boys into bat on a pitch which was likely to favour the bowlers due to the overcast conditions.
However Aston lived to regret their decision early on as Bablake opener Joshua Manning hit a quick-fire 31 to guide his team to 55 runs without loss of wicket.
Manning was then trapped lbw by Junior Johnson which brought Adil Hussain to the crease with Mark Eames.
The pair took Bablake past 100 before Eames was run-out for 42.
However Hussain provided the backbone to Bablake’s innings as he hit 71 before he was caught by Clement Smith while the score stood at 203/6.
Middle order batsmen Azhar Ali, Jason Pyott, and Thomas Cowley went past the double figure stage, but all failed to progress further as wickets fell at regular intervals while Bablake progressed towards the 200 mark.
Tailenders Bennett, Eames, Morris, and Udeshi all fell for a combined nine as Bablake were restricted to 213/9 from their allotted 50 overs.
In reply, Aston Manor made a steady start before opener Russell Guy was bowled by Azhar Ali for nine with the score on 22.
Recordo Gordon and Arun Toora put on 53 for the second wicket before both fell in quick succession for 39 and 30 respectively.
The game was then stopped due to unplayable conditions while Aston Manor were 139/3.
Bablake leapfrogged Coleshill to eighth in the league table despite their losing draw.
