Struggling Shipston defeated byleaders (From Evesham Journal)

Struggling Shipston defeated byleaders

12:50pm Sunday 17th June 2012 in Sport

SHIPSTON-on-Stour lost by 57 runs at home to leaders Earlswood in the Cotswold Hills League Premier Division.

Having seen the visitors post 204-7, Shipston closed on 147-9 and are third from bottom after six matches.

However, table-topping Earlswood were made to work hard for their total after some tight bowling and good fielding from the hosts.

Number six batsman Will Windeatt, with a hard-hitting unbeaten 62, was the main reason they achieved maximum batting points after the three Everett brothers, Leon, Karl and Craig, had all made double-figure contributions of 44, 34 and 25 respectively.

Dave Murphy took his 750th first X1 league wicket when dismissing opener Leon Everett, while Phil Hall had opening partner Waqar Mohammed trapped in front for seven.

Dave Pyne picked up the wicket of Dave Smith (2) thanks to a good catch by Paul Cross, but the pick of the bowlers was Matt Corby with 2-37 from 10 overs.

In reply, Shipston got off to a good start with Corby racing to 27 of the 35 runs scored but, in attempting to hit Mohammed for a second six in the 10th over, he was caught by a diving Tim Delahey .

Jack Murphy was run out without scoring, leaving Gary Betteridge and Julian Morris to rebuild the innings. The pair added 49 in 16 overs but when Morris (42) hit an easy catch to Windeatt off Rice, the innings capitulated.

Betteridge (15) fell to Delahay and Cross and Ben Cox both departed without scoring.

Rice picked up both wickets as Shipston slumped from 85-2 to 85-6 in 15 deliveries.

Tom Cox (4) and Matt Pratt (2) fell to Delahay and at 103-8 Shipston’s challenge was effectively over.

Hall (18) and Dave Murphy took the score to 121 before the former became Delahay’s fourth victim.

Murphy (20) and Pyne (2) batted for nine overs to frustrate and deny the visitors maximum bowling points and took Shipston to a final total of 147-9. Delahay finished with 4-23, Rice 3-30 and Mohammed 1-30.

􀁥􀁥 Shipston-on-Stour seconds (130-8) lost by 41 runs to Warwick CC Staff (171-8) in Division Two.