A STUNNING half-century by captain Owen Edwards sent Rugby on their way to a third win in four matches at Sutton Coldfield last Saturday.
The result moves Rugby up to sixth in Warwickshire County Cricket League Premier Division, following their two-wicket victory.
After a delayed start due to rainfall, which reduced the encounter to a 37-over match, Sutton Coldfield batted first and slumped to 60-4, but recovered through the partnership of 54 between Tom Eustace (38) and Lee Thomason (55).
Eustace’s dismissal from Jeevan Barhey’s catch off Matthew Ewer’s delivery proved a turning point, as the hosts began to concede wickets at regular intervals.
Henry Wilkins (4-29) was the biggest beneficiary of the Sutton Coldfield slide, helping bowl the hosts out for 153, while top scorer Thomason’s stint at the crease was ended by Edwards’ catch from a Lee Golding ball.
In reply, openers Lee James (8) and Barhey (14) were gone at 30-2 despite confident starts – the former caught out by Raul Ram off a Dinushka Nawarathnage delivery, with the bowler then dismissing Barhey lbw.
Michael Hughes (13) was next to go after partnering Edwards (52no) for a short stint, with the captain the one constant throughout the remainder of the innings.
Edwards then oversaw partnerships with George Terry (3), Ewer (15), Wilkins (5), Henry Parker (3) and Vishaal Rathod (0) – reaching the half-century mark alongside the latter, to take Rugby to victory with eight balls remaining.
Rugby now look to continue recent winning momentum on Saturday (noon), when they host eighth-placed Solihull Municipal.
