Earlswood 264-4, Broadway 175 all out,Earlswood won by 89runs.

Earlswood22 points Broadway 6.

Report by Nigel Evans

Broadway travelled to Earlswood in confident mood despite suffering their first defeat the previous week, but return empty handed, without really doing themselves justice on the day.

With the weather set fair the home side won the toss and chose to bat, on a dry looking pitch. After a cautious start the openers, L Everett (72) and K Mohammed (76), built steadily seizing on anything errant and with the Broadway attack mixing some excellent deliveries with some freebies, the accumulation began in earnest. Both rode their luck a little, notably Mohammed who should have been snaffled at slip in Cutler’s first over when the total was 43. 

As the found more freedom and the shots and runs flowed they showed belligerence and guile in equal measure and they set up an ultimately comfortable victory.With the ubiquitous Powell and vice-captain Smallman failing to make their usual early in roads, and Stewart and Cutler lacking fortune, it was left to Horsburgh to take the bowling plaudits. Bowling unchanged and toiling both uphill and into the breeze he eventually separated the openers by trapping Everett LBW when the total had exceeded 150 in the 28th over. Highly rated K Mohammed quickly followed when he played on, and when Horsburgh (4 for 49) eventually got through K Mohammed’s defences and castled captain Windyatt for only 2 he brought Broadway back into the game at 182 for 4 in the 36th.

Unfortunately K Everett (67) had alternative ideas. As D Smith (not out 17) rotated the strike sensibly Everett took on his brother’s mantle and cut, drove, sliced and pulled the total to an imposing 263 before becoming Smallman’s sole victim of the final ball of the innings.

Earslwood’s batters had set the platform and they set out to restrict Broadway immediately. Starting with slow bowlers they tried to move the game on quickly and Broadway found scoring difficult. N Evans (17) departed early smartly taken at slip off D Smith’s leg spin. Captain G Evans (35) gave the innings much needed impetus before misjudging Mohammed and he was bowled around his legs. This initiated a revolving door policy with the Broadway batsmen as wickets fell regularly, as the asking rate spiralled. Unusually the middle order failed with Hawkins, Humpston, Powell and Phillips failing to make double figures. Opener Martin held the innings together but, as he tried to up the ante having accumulated 50, he succumbed in the 38th over and with it the curtain was drawn on the match. Horsburgh’s (15) late cameo brought Broadway an additional batting point but it was scant consolation as they slumped to an 89 run defeat. 

The home bowlers as the pressure was elevated cashed in with the success shared. Rice was the pick with 3 for 27, along with W Mohammed 2 for 17 and T Mohammed 2 for 24 proving able allies.

The win took the home side top and saw Broadway’s early season dissipate slightly as they slid to 5th. They look to return to winning ways this week as they host Wellesbourne.

The seconds returned to action after an unscheduled rest and proved far too strong for their Winchcombe counterparts. After choosing to bat first, they rattled up an impressive 251 for 3. Holmes failed for a change, but fellow opener Carenza (37), McDonagh (72), Wheeler (52 not out) and Marston (59 not out) certainly didn’t. Facing this imposing target Winchcombe never threatened and they were restricted to 152 for 7, falling to a 99 run defeat.