WIN: 16/04/2011 v Norton Lindsey
The Town’s Saturday 1st XI started their 2011 season with a 7 wicket win over visitors, Norton Lindsey, in a 40 over a side friendly clash. Norton Lindsey posted 132-7 on a slow low wicket with opener, Pozzi and number 3, Morgan both top scoring with 28 each. Reading in the number 8 berth was unbeaten on 18 as wickets were shared about the Town bowlers. Dave Edmunds took 2-3 off 3 overs, James Nason 1-10, Roger Kelsey 1-12 and Pranay Turlapati 1-32 off his 8 overs as the Town used 7 bowlers. Replying, the Town strolled to victory inside 25 overs thanks to a fine unbeaten half century from opener, Nason, who hit 10 boundaries and a six in his 58 not out. Mitch Lowe added 31 not out as he and Nason shared in an unbeaten 66 for the 4th wicket partnership. McInnes took 2-17 and Ashley 1-13 for the visitors.
WIN: 23/04/2011 v Wellesbourne
The Town 1’s had a 42 win at Wellesbourne in their second 40 overs a side pre-League season friendly. James Nason, continued his early season form hitting 34 with 4 x 4, whilst Mitch Lowe hit 32, clubbing half a dozen balls to the boundary. Gregg Peebles added 17 in the side’s total of 175-10. For Wellesbourne, the most successful bowlers were J. Stephenson taking 3-29 and Evans 3-32. Wellesbourne were bowled out in the 34th over for 133, as the wickets were shared by the Town bowlers. Dave Edmunds snapped up 3-13, Roger Kelsey 2-20, Lowe 2-22, colt Phil Edmonds 2-44 whilst wily Geoff Edmunds was his usual frugal self taking 1-9 off 6 overs. Mike Watts took a catch and a sharp stumping behind the sticks.
WIN: 30/04/2011 v Harborne
The Town 1’s warmed up for the start of the League season next week, with a thrilling 2 run win over Birmingham League outfit, Harborne, in their last 45 overs a side pre season friendlies. Batting first, the Town posted 186-8 with Richard Collinson in sublime form as he made a fine 60. Opener Dave Edmunds had earlier posted 37 but debutant, Neil Goodman caught the eye with a superb unbeaten 40. For Harborne, their skipper Raj Sen, was the pick of the bowlers taking 3-27 off his 9 overs followed by Hawkins 2-45. Chasing Harborne kept up with the pace only to fall 2 runs short as they ended on 184-7 after needing 8 runs off the last 12 balls of the match. Town bowler, Goodman, impressed with the ball taking 2-32 whilst Dave Edmunds took 3-29 at the death. However, it was a stunning catch in the deep by Guy Pearson to remove former Warwickshire and Scotland ODI player, Naveed Poonia, for 7 that ultimately proved the turning point in a closely fought contest. Colt, Tom Pope and Mitch Lowe were the other Town wicket takers.
WIN: 07/05/2011 v Ansley Sports
The Town 1st XI started their 2011 League Season in style as they enjoyed a 4 wicket win against Ansley Sports in a low scoring affair. Ansley were put into bat and struggled against the Town bowlers to post 146-9 from their 50 overs. Only Copson with 42 and number 10, Morgan, 31 not out showed any form with the bat as they struggled against the seam of Pete Alty who took 3-31, whilst veteran left arm spinner, Geoff Edmunds, snapped up 4-24 from 15 frugal overs. Mitch Lowe took 1-52. In reply, the Town started well as opener, Dave Edmunds, hit 10 boundaries and a six on his way to 54 but once he was out the side stuttered after James Nason made 13 and Adie Sellar 11 and looked in trouble at 114-6. However, a fine 37 run unbeaten partnership between Neil Goodman 27 not out and keeper, Mike Watts, 16 not out saw the Town 1’s to 147-6 inside 35 overs despite Ansley’s Boyd taking 4-48 and Sayed 1-33. Kenilworth 20 points, Ansley Sports 3 points.
WIN: 14/05/2011 v King’s Heath
Mitch Lowe and Neil Goodman were the Town stars as the side chased down King’s Heath total of 201-7 to secure an incredible last ball 7 wicket win after earlier losing 12 overs of their innings to the rain in the Premier Division Warwickshire Cricket League clash. The pair came together at 105-2 after in form James Nason made 50 and Dave Edmunds 22 and proceeded to blast 97 runs off the final 9 overs of the match as they ran riot with the bat. Lowe was in brutal form smashing 8 boundaries and 3 sixes in his unbeaten knock of 63, whilst Goodman hit half a dozen 4’s in his unbeaten 38. Earlier, Sheppard had hit 44, Pemberton 24 and Davis 22 in the King’s Heath total as Geoff Edmunds took 3-52, Dave Edmunds 1-32 whilst Goodman chipped in 2-46 and Lowe 1-51 as part of their fine all round performances on the day for the Town. Lowe and Goodman then required 32 from 16 balls and they reduced it to 6 off the last over. Four byes and a leg bye meant the scores were tied but the pair scrambled a single to give the Town side an exciting and famous last ball win as they triumphed, reaching 202-3 in 38 overs and giving the second win in the first two league games of the season for the Town, leaving King’s Heath shell shocked.
LOSS: 21/05/2011 v Olton & West Warwicks
The Town 1’s suffered their first defeat of the League season after the tail folded in the run chase after Olton posted 271-5 with Docker making 111 and Simpson 75. Town’s Tom Kane and Mitch Lowe took a brace of wickets. The match looked well set as Lowe and Lee Melville put on a 5th wicket partnership of 99 before Melville fell for 50. Lowe went on to make 58 but was caught in the deep after opener Dave Edmunds had earlier posted 34. The side were bowled out for 186, losing their last 5 wickets for a paltry 9 runs as Ducros took 4-31, Vyakaranam 4-55 and Docker 2-27.
LOSS: 28/05/2011 v Solihull Blossomfield
The Town 1’s suffered their second defeat of the season by an 8 wicket margin after managing to post a paltry 116-10. Only Mitch Lowe and Gregg Peebles managed to make it into the 20’s as both posted 25 each. Geoff Edmunds 17 not out and Lee Melville 12 were the only other batsmen to reach double figures as Ebad took 4-26 from his 25 overs and Becksmith took 3-35 for Blossomfiled who then cruised to 118-2 with ease as Altaf made 57 not out and Syed was unbeaten on 27. Lowe and Tom Kane were the only Town bowlers to take a wicket.
LOSS: 04/06/2011 v Fillongley
A last over 6 with 3 balls remaining of the match condemned the 1st XI to their 3rd consecutive defeat in a thrilling game against Fillongley. The 1’s had posted 190-9 with Mark Deeley making 42, Tom Lawrence 29, colt Pat Howard 28 and keeper Mick Watts 26. Moore took 3-31, Brooke 3-51 and Gardner 2-49 for the visitors. Blackmore set Fillongley off on the run chase with a solid 63. Despite Mitch Lowe claiming 4-48 and the evergreen Pete Alty 3-59, Fillongley’s number 9, Moore unbeaten on 40 saw his side home to 194-8 and victory when hit the ball out of the ground for a maximum in the last over.
WINNING DRAW: 11/06/2011 v Highway
The Town 1’s had the better of a draw against neighbours Highway in a rain affected match that saw the Town lose 13 overs. Highway posted a challenging 271-5 off their 50 overs thanks to Sandhu who smoted 106 runs and Butt 67 as they shared in a 130 run 2nd wicket partnership. Thornton added 30 whilst Dave Edmunds held 3 sharp outfield catches. Gregg Peebles took 2-68 for the Town, whilst there was a wicket a piece for veterans Pete Alty and Geoff Edmunds and spinner James Nason. Due to the rain break, the Town were never going to win the match and set their eyes on the winning draw target of 201. Dave Edmunds hit 45, Mitch Lowe 32 and Mark Deeley 23. It was left to Adie Sellar 17 not out and Mike Watts 7* to see the surpass the set target as they reached 207-6 in the last over of the match despite the best efforts of Highway’s Lee Bourne who took 5-72.
WIN: 18/06/2011 v Nuneaton
The Town 1’s bounced back from recent defeats to record their 3rd win of the season with an impressive 6 wicket win against Nuneaton in a rain affected match thanks to a match winning knock from Town’s number 3, Tom Lawrence, who ended the day unbeaten on 61. Nuneaton faced 46 overs and made 171-8 with Taplin posting 43, Blower 35 and Caratella 29. Mitch Lowe was the Town’s most successful bowler snapping up 3-35 whilst wily veteran spinner, Geoff Edmunds, claimed 2-34. There was a wicket a piece for evergreen Pete Alty and Neil Goodman whilst Mike Watts took two catches behind the sticks. Rain reduced the Town reply to only 36 overs but it did not faze the side as Dave Edmunds 28 and James Nason 19 put on 54 for the 1st wicket. Lawrence and Goodman 32 then shared in a crucial 4th wicket partnership of 84 to edge the side closer to the target. Lowe then joined the party to bludgeon a quickfire 19 not out with 2 boundaries and a six to see the Town 1’s home as they reached 173-4 with 9 balls of the match left. Lawrence’s innings saw him smote 7 boundaries in his match winning performance after Taplin had taken 3-35 and Tedds 1-17 for the visitors.
LOSING DRAW: 25/06/2011 v Bablake Old Boys
The Town’s last pair of Geoff Edmunds and Pete Alty superbly batted out the last 6 overs of the match to deny Bablake Old Boys victory after Tony Bristow had earlier blasted an incredible 176 in Bablake’s score of 292-7. The Town ended the day on a 127-9 and looked set for a sorry defeat as De Souza starred with the ball taking 5-34, whilst Bablake’s Sanders, Swaffield, Cowley and Pyott chipped in with a wicket a piece. However, Edmunds 2 not out and Alty 0 not out remained steadfast and obdurate to frustrate Bablake after Town’s Lee Melville had posted 28, Gregg Peebles 24 and Dave Edmunds 20. Earlier Edmunds had taken 3-76, Peebles 2-72 and Alty 1-49 as Bablake had romped to their score thanks to Bristow, Swaffield 45 and Pyott 24.
WINNING DRAW: 02/07/2011 v Bedworth
It was a batsmen paradise at the Town’s Warwick Road ground with both sides totalling 520 runs for the loss of 11 wickets in their drawn game against Bedworth in their Premier Division Warwickshire Cricket League clash. Batting first the Town 1’s posted 293-6 thanks to solid knocks from Dave Edmunds 57 and Neil Goodman 55 who put on 78 for the second wicket. Lee Melville then added a valuable 47 before Gregg Peebles ran riot clubbing a fine 70 on a superb track. He blasted four boundaries and half a dozen sixes in his knock. Adie Sellar was unbeaten on 32 whilst Jones and Jakeman took two wickets each for the visitors. In reply, Bedworth’s opener, Daugarambibi top scored with 85 whilst Jakeman hit 68 and Oldham 34 as the side ended the day on 227-5 as the Town’s bowlers toiled away with little success. Pete Alty took 2-52, Geoff Edmunds 2-56 and Goodman 1-58 as the town got the better of the draw.
LOSS: 09/07/2011 v Streetly
Table topping, Streetly, put the Town 1’s to the sword as they cruised to a 9 wicket win with 5 overs to spare after chasing down the Town total of 248-8. It was a fantastic 241 run unbroken 2nd wicket partnership by Streetly’s Lloyd who hit 126 not out and Moore 98 not out that condemned the Town to defeat as the 6 bowlers used could not a find breakthrough after being 8-1. Lloyd hit 15 boundaries and 5 sixes in his sublime innings whilst Moore despatched the ball to the boundary 10 times and three times over the ropes. Only Town’s veteran, Pete Alty, took a wicket as he ended with 1-44. Earlier, Town’s Dave Edmunds 51 and James Nason 27 put on 71 for the first wicket before youngsters Mitch Lowe hit 50 and Gregg Peebles 48 in a score of 247-8 which looked a challenging total but which proved to be false as Lloyd and Moore ran riot with the bat for Streetly.
LOSS: 23/07/2011 v King’s Heath
King’s Heath were 5 wicket winners over the Town 1’s who could only post 153 despite a solid 57 from Dave Edmunds and 21 from Tom Lawrence as the pair put on 67 for the first wicket. Edmunds’ half century included 12 boundaries but the side struggled against the Heath bowling trio of Amar Khan who claimed a fine 5-33, whilst all rounders Rob Blythe took 2-3 and Phil Jefferies 2-35 who then led King’s Heath to victory with 6 overs to spare as they put on an unbroken 84 run 6th wicket partnership with Jefferies making an unbeaten 46 and Blythe not out on 34. Gregg Peebles with 3-43 and Phil Edmonds 2-16 had reduced Heath to 70-5, thanks to three good out field catches by Guy Pearson but Jefferies and Blythe saw Heath to 154-5 with relative ease.
LOSING DRAW: 30/07/2011 v Olton & West Warwicks
The Town 1’s had Neil Goodman to thank for his all round performance that saw the side get close to the Olton score of 237-9 in an entertaining drawn game. Goodman took a good 5 wicket haul returning figures of 5-62 as several Olton’s batsmen made starts with Ceillam hitting 42, Webb 34, Docker 29, Ellis an unbeaten 27 and Gateley 26. Mitch Lowe chipped in with 2-46 and Geoff Edmunds took 1-36 whilst keeper Mike Watts took three catches behind the sticks. In reply, Goodman was unbeaten on 75 as he hit 9 boundaries and 2 sixes as the Town 1’s made 214-8 chasing after James Nason had made 39, Dave Edmunds 30 and Lee Melville 29 for the Town whilst Vyakaranam took 3-53, Docker 2-41 for Olton. There was a wicket a piece for the Olton trio of Stott, Ceillam and Ellis.
LOSING DRAW: 06/08/2011 v Solihull Blossomfield
The Town 1’s fell two runs short of claiming a winning draw in a rain affected match against Solihull Blossomfield who posted 218-9 from their full allocation of 50 overs. Bloss had a remarkable recovery from 57-6 after the Town’s bowlers had made great in roads. However, Harvey made an unbeaten 64 as he put on 72 with Syed 48 for the 7th wicket and then 76 runs with Ford 43 for the 8th wicket as the trio remained obdurate and helped Bloss reach a challenging target. Town’s Mitch Lowe took 3-44 from his 15 overs, Gregg Peebles 3-60, Geoff Edmunds 2-47 whilst Pete Alty was the other wicket taker, In reply, rain meant that the Town would only have 35 overs. Gregg Peebles made a solid 42 from 65 balls with 4 boundaries and a six. However, it was left to Richard Collinson who was unbeaten on a steadfast 44 from 96 balls with an array others to try to make the push for the winning draw target. However, the fell 2 runs short of claiming the majority of the points as wickets fell in the run chase and ended the day on 141-8 as four Bloss bowlers took 2 wickets a piece.
WINNING DRAW: 13/08/2011 v Atherstone
The Town 1’s had the better of a drawn game as they posted 283-4 with Dave Edmunds hitting a sublime century as he made 135 and James Nason 81 as the pair put on 211 for the first wicket. Edmunds hit 22 boundaries and a six in his innings whilst Nason hit 8 boundaries. Neil Goodman added an unbeaten 27 as the Atherstone bowlers toiled. The successful ones were Allcock who took 2-33 and Thomas 1-73. Replying, the Town bowlers did not have the killer touch and the match fizzled out for a predictable draw as Smart held the innings together with 51 not out after Smith had made 30. Phil Edmonds snapped up 3-50 with a wicket a piece for Tom Kane, Nason and Geoff Edmunds as Atherstone ended the day on 153-6.
LOSING DRAW: 20/08/2011 v Fillongley
Town’s Neil Goodman tried his hardest to secure victory for the Town over Fillongley taking 3-43 then blasting 99 in the run chase, however the side had to settle for a draw. Batting first, Fillongley posted 228-9 off 46 overs in a rain affected match. Carty 68 and Moore 80 put on 123 for the first wicket and Brooks added 23. However, Goodman and Dave Edmunds 3-21 were the Town star bowlers, whilst Tom Kane and Phil Edmonds chipped in with a wicket a piece. In reply, James Nason and Gregg Peebles made 23 each before Goodman started to run riot with the bat hitting 9 boundaries and a six in his 113 ball innings. He was sadly run out turning for his century as victory was in sight. Wickets fell in the run chase and the Town settled to end the day on 208-9 as Brooks took 3-46 and Moore 4-42.
MATCH ABANDONED: 27/08/2011 v Highway
The Town 1’s match against Highway fell victim to the weather in the 23rd over when the side were 67-2 after Dave Edmunds had posted 46 meaning that no further play was possible.
WINNING DRAW: 29/08/2011 v Nuneaton
The Town 1’s had a crucial winning draw against Nuneaton as both Clubs seek Warwickshire Cricket League Premier Division survival but they were unable to take the last Nuneaton wicket to secure victory as they settled on 113-9. Town’s Gregg Peebles had taken 4-25, Dave Edmunds 3-26, Kane 1-8 off 8 overs and Lowe 1-43 as Topp made 28 with the bat and Rice 21 but the Town bowlers were unable to take out the last pair. Earlier, a sublime 138 from opener Edmunds who hit 15 boundaries and 3 sixes and Adam Stuart 56 with 7 boundaries enabled to Town to post a challenging 256-4.
LOSS: 03/09/2011 v Bablake Old Boys
A disastrous batting display condemned the Town 1’s to a 67 run defeat against high flying Bablake Old Boys in their Warwickshire Cricket League Premier Division clash as they lost their 6 last wickets for a miserly 4 runs. They had been well set in chasing down the Bablake’s total of 214-9 after Town’s James Nason had made 69, Dave Edmunds 27 and Charlie Leonard 27. However, after the trio were out, the tail folded and the side was skittled out for a paltry 147 with 7 overs to spare as Cowley went rampant with the ball, snapping up a match winning 6-30 as he ran through the tail. Coyle had chipped in with 2-12 and De Souza 1-30 for the Old Boys. Earlier, Cowley had posted 61, Pyott 44 and Swaffield 37 for Bablake, whilst Edmunds took 4-59, Mitch Lowe 2-26 and Leonard 2-65 after keeper Mike Watts had taken 2 catches and a stumping behind the sticks but it turned out to be a batting performance to forget for the Town.
LOSING DRAW: 10/09/2011 v Bedworth
Michael Faulkner saved the Town blushes after the side collapsed to 76-9 in their 46 overs chasing Bedworth’s score of 186-8. Friswell made 51, Spacey 26 not out and Jones 22 for Bedworth as Dave Edmunds took 4-47 from his 15 overs and evergreen Pete Alty 3-33 from his 15 whilst Mitch Lowe claimed the other wicket to fall. Chasing, the Town struggled with the conditions as James Nason top scored with 18 and Lowe 12 as Dangarembizi took 4-15, Sharma 2-9 off 13 overs, Oldham 2-19 and Jakeman 1-1 for Bedworth. However, Faulkner – 6 not out – remained steadfast to bat out the last overs to frustrate the hosts and save the day for the Town.
LOSING DRAW: 17/09/2011 v Streetly
Old stager Mike Watts and youngster Tom Pope were the Town heroes as they saw the side to enough points to retain the Club’s Warwickshire Cricket League Premier Division status for 2012 by a solitary point after a 22 match long season programme. The Town side were pitted against Premier Division champions elect Streetly who move into the Birmingham and District Premier Cricket League set up for next season. Streetly showed their batting prowess as they posted 281-9 as Curtis hit 90, Bates 48 and Hunt 43. For the Town, Dave Edmunds snapped up 3-35 and Charlie Leonard 3-61 whilst Pete Alty, Neil Goodman and Matt Bolshaw added a wicket a piece to enable the Town to gain crucial maximum bowling points. In reply, the Town were never going to surpass the Streetly total and managed to reach 183-7 after Leonard had posted 38 and Edmunds 26. However, it was a match saving 8th wicket partnership that saw the Town draw the match and gain two valuable extra batting points as Watts made an unbeaten 43, hitting 7 boundaries and Pope 20 not out with 4 boundaries. Their efforts saw the Town finish the season one point ahead of Nuneaton who were relegated to Division 1 for next season after both sides finished with 9 points each from their respective matches much to the Town’s relief after such a keenly fought and tight Division. Streetly 17 points, Town 9 points.