Rain interruption proves costly for Brockhampton against Bromsgrove (From Hereford Times)

Brockhampton loss of nine overs due to rain at The Parks in Division 1 of Birmingham League

12:13pm Thursday 9th June 2011 in Cricket

BROCKHAMPTON were left to rue the loss of nine overs due to rain in the first innings when they had Bromsgrove nine wickets down at the close.

They had to settle for a winning draw at The Parks in Division 1 of the Birmingham League after they had dominated the game from start to finish.

Brockhampton batted consistently down the order and posted a total of 256-8 from their 55 overs. They took wickets regularly when Bromsgrove batted, but a last-wicket partnership between Mark Evenson (26 no) and former Herefordshire seamer Nick Husbands left the Worcestershire side on 138- 9 when stumps were drawn after 46 overs.

Adam Hewlett (56) and Chris Boroughs (71) provided the platform for the big total. They received sound support from Ben Stebbings (22), Henry Langford (37) and Tom Austwick (19).

Four Bromsgrove batsmen reached 20 but Callum Stewart (3-40) and Nabil Malik (3-33), backed up by a wicket apiece for Boroughs and Owen Price plus a run out, left the visitors hanging on at the close.

Å DESPITE showing more resilience in their batting, Eastnor are still finding life very difficult in Division 2.

Eastnor batted into the final over of their innings for the first time this season, but the total of 151 was always going to be hard to defend. They did have one spell midway through the innings when it appeared that a tight finish could be on the cards, but Water Orton sped away again to win by six wickets with 11 overs to spare.

Tahir (17) did well against the seam attack, but was then bowled first ball by spinner Ed Harris. Eastnor lost three more wickets before Atiq (21) and Shahid (41) dug in and pushed the score towards three figures.

A quickfire 20 from number 11 Amjad pushed the score past 150 after spinners Ed Harris (4-47) and Asif Ali (3-29) had kept a tight grip on the run-rate.

Water Orton started at a gallop against the opening attack, but then lost wickets and the run-rate dipped during the middle phase of the innings. When the score read 110-4 with 20 overs to go a tight finish looked possible.

Gary Crouch (37 no) had other ideas and saw the visitors home with plenty to spare.