1st XI
Birmingham League Division Three
Astwood Bank 368-6
Aston Manor 246-8
MATCH DRAWN

Aston Manor managed to salvage a credible draw out of a match that the hosts had dominated throughout on the back of a superb double century by former Derbyshire county player Stephen Adshead.

Adshead (200) and his opening partner Ryan Blakemore (71) put on 206 for the first wicket and it was always an uphill struggle for Manor’s bowlers from that point onwards.

Shaun Findlay (4-66) did pick up some late wickets, but Astwood Bank were still able to amass a huge total of 368-6 from their 55 overs.

Although it was a flat batting track with one very small boundary it was always going to be a tall order chasing down such a total.

After the loss of an early wicket, it was to Manor’s credit that they continued to go for an unlikely victory.

South African Byron Wyngard (116) finally showed the sort of form that he is capable of in a splendid partnership with youngster Sahal Malvernkar, who was very unfortunate to be run out on 49. Their partnership gave Manor a glimmer of hope of an amazing victory especially with Phillip DeFreitas (22) looking in ominous form. Unfortunately as the visitors tried to accelerate a clutch of wickets fell leaving Kamran Zaman and Jason Furnell to bat out the final overs to ensure a draw.