Batters eye target to defeat league leaders

5:10pm Saturday 5th July 2008

EVESHAM'S batsmen will need to score 204 runs if they are to take the scalp of Birmingham Premier League second division leaders Penn.

And, they will also have to keep one eye on rthe weather that twice forced the players off the field at Avon Street this afternoon.

It was a great effort from the Evesham bowlers with Alex Harrison taking most of the plaudits after a mammoth 27-over spell that brought him figures of 7-74.

Lee Nightingale, dropped by Tom Paul in his thirties, held the innings together until trapped leg before by Nick Powell.

Penn were in trouble at 35-3 but Nightingale and Homer stage the recovery but the hosts will have been happy with their efforts and could go top if they can reach their target.

Rain, however, looked like being the winner when the chasers were forced off the pitch having reduced their target by 57 for the loss of three batsmen.

Indian Abhishek Jhunjhunwala was still at the crease on 35 with nine overs still to be bowled in order to obtain a result but it was looking increasingly likely that the players would remain in the pavilion.