2nd XI
Birmingham League Division Two (South)
Aston Manor 174 all out
Streetly 175-8
STREETLY WON BY TWO WICKETS

Manor’s promotion hopes were severely dented with this defeat to lowly Streetly in a controversial game at Briar Avenue.

The visitors were without several of their regular players, but that was no excuse for an inept batting display which saw them dismissed for only 174. Of the top order batsman only James Beamand (40) showed the required application as Manor were reduced to 105-6 in the face of some good bowling from Adam Reed (6-56) which included a hat trick. Steve Knowles (26) and debutant Junior Johnson (36no) repaired some of the damage with a fine partnership before the latter run out of partners as Reed polished off the tail.

Streetly’s reply was based totally around Mubassar Ali (104no) who saw his side through to a tense victory despite some hostile bowling from Kieran Carroll (2-28) and excellent spin bowling from Johnson (6-52). Manor were less than pleased with certain decisions made, but the reason for the defeat was an unusual lack of application in their batting which has been so good previously this season. James Beamand’s performance stepping up from the 3rd XI was a plus, but the main positive was the performance of Junior Johnson, who on this evidence, could be a very good acquisition for the Club.