DARSHAN Desai starred with bat and ball as Rugby CC battled to a four-wicket victory against Stratford-upon-Avon chasing a 200-plus score.
Opener and captain Desai (43) and Manan Bhardwaj (41) led the run chase as Rugby secured victory in the 45th over of their reply at Webb Ellis Road.
Stratford managed 203 all out in their innings as visiting captain Gareth Langman (85) top scored while Desai (3-33) took three wickets.
The result means Rugby sit sixth in the Warwickshire County League Premier Division table.
Rugby won the toss and elected to field as Tyrese Karelse (2-36) took a couple of early wickets by clean bowling Simon Heath (10) and Angus King (4).
However, Henry Hopkins (23) and Langman combined at the crease to rebuild the Stratford innings before Suhas Thyagaraj (1-10) struck to remover the former.
Langman also formed solid partnerships with Matthew Warren (17) and Tom Bacon (24) as he scored 14 boundaries in a 98-ball innings.
The Stratford skipper eventually fell to the bowling of Noah Massey (2-43) while Daanyal Sadiq (1-37) had Warren stumped.
Rugby bowled the visitors out for 203 in 48.5 overs and made a strong start with the bat in reply.
Desai and Danny De Souza (23) put on 57 runs for the first wicket with the former’s 43 runs coming from just 34 deliveries.
Stratford bowler Ben Simmons (1-36) made the breakthrough before De Souza and Bhardwaj enjoyed a 61-run second-wicket stand.
King (3-52) removed both De Souza and Bhardwaj and also trapped Thyagaraj (0) while James Harrison (1-19) accounted for Karelse (5).
And Harrison ran out Massey (1) as a flurry of wickets left Rugby on 127-6.
However, Ishan Fernando (33 not out) and Harry Gedye (31 not out) combined for a match-winning 77-run partnership to guide the home side to a four-wicket victory.
Rugby are next in action against Marston Green on Saturday, June 6 with play to begin at 12pm (midday) at Bickenhill Recreation Ground.
