A FINE innings by Old Elizabethans’ Liam Ridings damaged Eastnor’s hopes of a top-five finish in Division Two of the Birmingham League.

Ridings crashed 13 fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 114 from 113 balls as his team chased down Eastnor’s 191 with seven wickets and 17 overs in hand.

After winning the toss and deciding to bat, Eastnor scored steadily. Skipper Clive Chadhani (14) and Andrew Fisher (26) gave the villagers a good start with an opening stand of 48.

But the best batting came from Atiq ur Rehman, whose 63 from 95 balls, provided the backbone of the innings until he was the penultimate man dismissed.

Although Iain Howie (1-23) took an early wicket, the Eastnor total never looked like being enough once Ridings got into his stride.

“Ridings is a good batsman and we just couldn’t bowl at him,” said Eastnor scorer Malcolm Hughes.

“He just smacked it everywhere. We got a reasonable total but it was never enough to give him a challenge.

“He gave one chance but by then he was already past 100 so it made no difference to the outcome.”

Atiq (2-44) completed a good all-round display with a useful 10-over spell.