FBC Manby Bowdler League
Montgomery 175 all out lost at
Wroxeter 245 for 6 by 70 runs
MONTGOMERY could not recover from a devastating top order spell from Wroxeter, as they succumbed to a 70 run defeat.
There was no place like home for the hosts as they set an electric pace early on, to help push their side to an imposing 245-6.
Opener Ed Home was joined by captain Nick Bevan in a superb first wicket partnership, which set the tone for the innings.
Rob Kinsey was the pick of the Monty bowling attack in his 17 overs and finally broke the hosts’ resistance by catching and bowling Bevan for 51.
Kinsey also bowled Ed Home for 59, but their departure only served to bring Guy and Tom Home to the crease.
Guy Home hammered a top scoring 62, before being caught by Kinsey off Craig Pearce, who then completed his 2-52 by having Tom Home caught for 32 by Ed Davies.
With Wroxeter’s top order safely back in the pavilion it was left to Kinsey (4-86) to take a handful of middle order wickets, while Tom Welti (14no) pushed the hosts to 245-6.
Montgomery needed a good start chasing such an imposing target, but instead suffered a top order collapse.
Opener Kinsey was caught for one by Welti off Scott Woodland, who also accounted for fellow opener David Mason for 24.
When Dave Thomas was trapped lbw for 14 by Welti, the Monty order was in trouble.
Ben Pridgeon (2-33) removed Ian Bapty (7) and trapped Rob Bennett lbw for a duck, as Montgomery continued to struggle to find any form of partnership.
However the collapse was stemmed by veteran Jonathan Williams and Andrew Barker, who combined to frustrate the hosts with a determined seventh wicket rally.
Barker was eventually snared for 23 by Woodland, who completed his 5-58 with the removal of Williams for 44.
Monty were hanging on in the hope of a draw, but with just one over remaining the last wicket fell as Gerry Reilly (1-23) bowled last man Adam Bowen for 11.