1st XI Page

16/06/2007 (Matchday 8)

Pelsall v Ombersley

Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League Division 3

On an unpredictable day for weather in the West Midlands it was somewhat of a surprise to find Ombersley comparatively dry. The threatening clouds drifted either side of this small cricket haven all afternoon but never really spilt more than spat or two. There were however a few Pelsall players who probably would have preferred a sudden large bucketful of water midway through their innings, to cancel out the game entirely rather than suffer the inevitable trouncing by second placed Ombersley.

The home side were invited to bat and for the first 20 over’s kept comparatively quiet with Ridgway (2-28) and Oswald-Jacobs (1-69) bowling reasonable line and length. Catterall (47) employed the bottom hand to good effect but it was M D’Oliveira (50) who acted as the Ombersley anchor man. No flamboyant shots here, just solid gritty batting with shades of his International Grandfather Basil’s style very evident. Rawnsley (46) waded in with some hefty shots in the latter part of the inning to give the home sides total a flattering respectability. Weston (6-89) although receiving a fair amount of tap did finish with a creditable sixfa. Had decisions been a little kinder, Pelsall might just have been chasing a more realistic total for their out of confidence batters to pursue.

Worcestershire fast bowler Catterall (4-30) however had different ideas, ripping through the heart of Pelsall’s top order with devastating effect. He was of course assisted by three unbelievable catches that suggested the slippers were sporting a special kind of glue on their hands! Australian Oswald-Jacobs was the only batsman to offer real resistance with a solid 42 until he fell to a contrived leg side trap but by that time he was rapidly running out of partners anyway. Let’s hope this Jekyle and Hyde approach that Pelsall have developed dissipates quickly for the sake of the cloth cap brigade who is already beginning to reach for the top shelf pills.

09/06/2007 (Matchday 7)

Pelsall v St Georges

Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League Division 3

St Georges has always been an excellent hunting ground for Pelsall but not so on Saturday when the visitors came a cropper when in truth it could have been so different.

It seemed an unusual decision by Shropshire wicket keeper Tilt to bat on the rumoured volatile wicket of St Georges but it played well in truth, early on with the opening pair adding 23 in the first two overs – a good start indeed. The home side were pegged back however and at one stage wobbled on 52-3 with Ridgway (5-66) once again spearheading Pelsall’s penetration. But the multitalented Taylor (58) who swoops shirts in the winter to play for Kidderminster Harriers FC and Hartley (42) ensured St Georges finished with a reasonable total, albeit that no other players in the batting line up reached double figures. Oswald-Jacobs once again figured with excellent figures of (4-62) off 18 overs.

Pelsall in reply started badly falling under the spell of slow left arm Indian profession player Bachani (5-49) off 22 overs with both openers gone with less than ten on the board. Barton (13) hit strongly through the off side before frustratingly striking one down points throat. A pity really, since the momentum was taking off nicely at that point. Oswald-Jacobs (24) made steady process when teamed with Stevens (36) and the Pelsall supporters pondering whether a good partnership with the Pelsall’s professional could turn this game around. Stevens’ aggressive approach including a straight six took the total to a hundred plus before being frustratingly adjudged caught behind. This and the immediate departure of  Oswald-Jacobs heralded Pelsall’s decline. Clarke (16) and Weston (19) attempted to pick up the batten but it was the ex Warwickshire youth fast bowler Walker who spoilt the party with a victory winning ‘4fa’ rolling over the tail in his second spell.

With high flying Ombersley on Saturday, Pelsall need to regroup quickly if they have any chance to catch the promotion places on offer.

ST GEORGES WON THE TOSS AND BATTED FIRST

ST GEORGES

MILLER run out............................................................................................................................................6

TILT b Ridgway..........................................................................................................................................26

WRIGHT c Clarke b Ridgway....................................................................................................................0

TAYLORc Clarke b Oswald Jacobs.......................................................................................................58

HARTELEY lbw Oswald-jacobs.............................................................................................................42

JOHNSON lbw Ridgway............................................................................................................................6

WHITING c&b Oswald-Jacobs.................................................................................................................2

SEDGLEY b Oswald-Jacobs....................................................................................................................9

MILLS not out...............................................................................................................................................5

BACHANI c Clarke b Ridgway...................................................................................................................5

WARD lbw Ridgway....................................................................................................................................1

EXTRAS......................................................................................................................................................24

Total (46.2 Overs)...................................................................................................................................184

BOWLING Weston 3-0-22-0 Green 5-0-23-0 Ridgway 20.2-3-66-5 Oswald-Jacobs 18-2-62-4

PELSALL

GRAINGER c Miller b Bachani..................................................................................................................3

HOLMES c Tilt b Taylor...............................................................................................................................3

OSWALD-JACOBS c Taylor b Bachani.................................................................................................23

BARTONc Taylor b Bachani....................................................................................................................13

STEVENS c Tilt b Mills.............................................................................................................................37

McPHERSON c Tilt b Taylor......................................................................................................................2

JONES c Taylor b Bachani........................................................................................................................0

CLARKE b Bachani..................................................................................................................................16

GREEN b Taylor..........................................................................................................................................0

WESTON b Taylor.....................................................................................................................................19

RIDGWAY not out........................................................................................................................................6

EXTRAS.........................................................................................................................................................5

Total (45.4 Overs)...................................................................................................................................127

BOWLING Taylor 12-3-33-4 Bachani 21.4-9-49-5 Ward 5-2-11-0 Johnson 2-0-15-0 Mills 5-0-18-1

ST GEORGES (24pts) beat PELSALL (5pts)

02/06/2007 (Matchday 6)

Pelsall v Old Wulfs Tettenhall

Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League Division 3

Another good day at the office for the Walsall Road side as Old Wulfs crumbled beneath a barrage of Pelsall seam bowling with Weston (3-25) setting the scene by taking a crippling brace of wickets in his first over.

The visitors never really recovered, with Jamie Green (2-17) moving the ball about to excellent effect and Aussie Oswald – Jacobs (4-27) providing the killer blows from first change position. Ridgeway (1-22) mopped up the visitors professional Yirk (28) with ‘extras’ top score on twenty seven. Innings closed on 101 inside 38 over’s.

Pelsall consolidated yet again with a third consecutive 50 partnership between Grainger (49) and Holmes (27) but with the score on sixty the later skied one off slow left arm Yirk (2-29). Unluckily, Grainger soon followed, playing on when one run short of a deserved half century. However, Pelsall reached their target with McPherson (2 no) and Stevens (14 no) steering the home side through the nervous 90’s.

Pelsall visit top of the table St Georges on Saturday. To early in the season really to say ‘it’s a must win’ but it would be nice!

PELSALL WON TOSS AND FIELDED FIRST

OLD WULFS

CADDICK lbw Weston................................................................................................................................0

ANSLOW c Jones b Green........................................................................................................................6

KILWORTH lbw Weston.............................................................................................................................0

VIRK c Clarke b Ridgway.........................................................................................................................28

MARSH c Clarke b Weston........................................................................................................................0

COOPER lbw Oswald-Jacobs...............................................................................................................12

THOMPSON c Barton b Oswald-Jacobs..............................................................................................13

MORRIS b Oswald-Jacobs.......................................................................................................................0

NUTTING b Oswald-Jacobs.....................................................................................................................0

FULLWOOD not out..................................................................................................................................13

PARKER b Green........................................................................................................................................2

EXTRAS......................................................................................................................................................27

Total (37.5 overs)....................................................................................................................................101

BOWLING Weston 8-2-25-3 Green 8.5-3-17-2 Ridgway 10-2-22-1 Oswald-Jacobs 11-2-38-3

PELSALL

GRAINGER b Fullwood............................................................................................................................49

HOLMES c Kilworth b Virk.......................................................................................................................27

BARTON st Thompson b Virk...................................................................................................................6

OSWALD-JACOBS c Cooper b Fullwood...............................................................................................0

STEVENS not out......................................................................................................................................14

MCPHERSON not out.................................................................................................................................2

EXTRAS......................................................................................................................................................18

Total (30 overs)............................................................................................................................................4

BOWLING Parker 6-1-0-31 Virk 15-1-29-2 Fullwood 9-1-41-2

PELSALL (20pts) beat OLD WULFS TETTENHALL (1pt)

28/05/2007 (Matchday 5)

Pelsall v Wem

Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League Division 3

The perils of the English weather let Wem off the hook as rampant Pelsall devastated the Shropshire side by bowling them out inside 53 overs on an overcast day. Alas, the weather intervened on this Bank Holiday Monday by drawing to a close the game at tea with torrential rain and hail to boot. The Pelsall Australian professional was fascinated.

The ever improving Ridgeway bowled throughout taking 5 wickets for 74 runs in his stint of 24 overs. He was ably assisted by Aussie Oswald-Jacobs (3-38) with the old master Skipper Grainger chipping in with 2-7 off a mere 1.2 overs!

The result left Pelsall still in 7th position and just 28 points off top spot. It’s a long

Season!

PELSALL WON THE TOSS AND FIELDED FIRST

WEM

SAVAGE b Oswald-Jacobs.....................................................................................................................21

DARLINGTON c Ridgway b Oswald-Jacobs.......................................................................................24

RASIKA lbw Ridgway..................................................................................................................................5

DAVIES (M) b Ridgway c Holmes..........................................................................................................23

PEEL b Ridgway..........................................................................................................................................0

COHEN c Green b Grainger...................................................................................................................12

ELLIS lbw Ridgway.....................................................................................................................................0

GILLEESPE c Hyden b Ridgway............................................................................................................24

DAVIES (J) b Oswald-Jacobs...................................................................................................................4

RAINE nb Grainger.....................................................................................................................................2

OLLEREMSHAW not out............................................................................................................................1

EXTRAS.........................................................................................................................................................8

Total (52.2 overs)....................................................................................................................................132

BOWLING  Ridgway 24-7-74-5 Green 7-2-10-0 Oswald-Jacobs 18-3-38-3 Holmes 2-1-2-0 Grainger 1.2-0-7-2

MATCH ABANDONNED PELSALL (9pts) WEM (6pts)

26/05/2007 (Matchday 4)

Pelsall v Solihull Blossomfield

Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League Division 3

Pelsall continued on their upward form by crushing visitors Blossomfield on Saturday with Aussie Oswald-Jacobs starring with both bat and ball.

Pelsall were invited to bat on a sporting wicket with openers Grainger (16) and Holmes (52) sharing in a difficult first wicket stand of 60 before Grainger received a snorter from Greenwood (1-62). Holmes rode his luck at times but when Oswald-Jacobs joined him there began a feast of runs with the latter particularly savaging on the wilting Blossomfield attack with Khan (0-75) suffering most from the seven bowlers used.

Oswald-Jacobs scored a magnificent and faultless 124 not out facing just 82 balls in the process. Promoted to No.3 spot, Ridgway (27) also struck the ball well before attempting a Kamikaze run. Clarke (11) and McPherson (12 no) contributed in the run feast.

Pelsall bowled well when the visitors entered the field under dim conditions. Three catches went begging early on before Green (2-30) struck, breaking a wicket in the process.

Ridgeway bowled with good pace and was rewarded with three of the top order batters but it was that man Oswald-Jacobs (4-12) that cleaned up the visitors albeit that late replacement Adrian Lewis did try to steal the Aussies thunder by bowling tail ender Abbas in his one over stint.

SOLIHULL WON TOSS AND FIELDED FIRST

PELSALL

GRAINGER c Khan b Greenwood.........................................................................................................16

HOLMES b Vikas.......................................................................................................................................52

RIDGEWAY run out...................................................................................................................................28

OSWALD-JACOBS not out....................................................................................................................124

STEVENS c Edmond b Amin....................................................................................................................1

CLARKE c Ali b Amin................................................................................................................................11

MCPHERSON not out..............................................................................................................................12

EXTRAS......................................................................................................................................................34

Total (55 overs).......................................................................................................................................277

BOWLING Greenwood 16-5-52-1 Ali 6-2-27-0 Khan (A) 15-1-75-0 Ali-Haq 2-0-19-0 Abbas 5-0-22-0 Vikas 5-0-25-1 Amin (S) 6-0-27-2

SOLIHULL

KHAN (N) b Green....................................................................................................................................10

AMIN (S) b Ridgway..................................................................................................................................37

EDMOND b Green.......................................................................................................................................0

AMIN (M) lbw Ridgway..............................................................................................................................19

KHAN (S)....................................................................................................................................................22

VIKAS lbw Oswald-Jacobs........................................................................................................................1

ALI-HAQ b Oswald-Jacobs........................................................................................................................8

ALI b Oswald-Jacobs.................................................................................................................................2

ABBAS b Lewis............................................................................................................................................1

KHAN (A) lbw Oswald-Jacobs..................................................................................................................1

GREENWOOD not out................................................................................................................................1

EXTRAS......................................................................................................................................................13

Total (31.1 overs)....................................................................................................................................115

BOWLING Ridgway 15-2-66-3 Green 7-0-30-2 Oswald-Jacobs 8.1-4-12-4 Lewis 1-0-2-1

PELSALL (24pts) beat Solihull Blossomfield (2pts)

19/05/2007 (Matchday 3)

Pelsall v Olton & West Warwickshire

Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League Division 3

PELSALL WON TOSS AND FIELDED FIRST

OLTON

WEBB c Grainger b Oswald-Jacobs.....................................................................................................40

NEALE c McPherson b Weston................................................................................................................6

FOX lbw Ridgeway......................................................................................................................................5

CEILLAM lbw Ridgeway.............................................................................................................................1

HAWKINS not out......................................................................................................................................38

BISHOP lbw Oswald-Jacobs....................................................................................................................0

FITZGERALD lbw Oswald-Jacobs.......................................................................................................... 3

GAVIN lbw Oswald-Jacobs.......................................................................................................................2

GABRIEL c Clarke b Ridgeway..............................................................................................................15

VYAKARANAM b Oswald-Jacobs.............................................................................................................9

SIMMS c McPherson b Oswald-Jacobs................................................................................................. 9

EXTRAS......................................................................................................................................................28

Total (52.3 overs)....................................................................................................................................156

BOWLING Weston 9-1-30-1 Green 7-1-21-0 Ridgeway 14-0-49-3 Oswald-Jacobs 17.3-8-25-6 Holmes 5-1-18-0

PELSALL

106 required for Winning Draw

GRAINGER run out...................................................................................................................................34

BARTON lbw Gabriel..................................................................................................................................2

RIDGEWAY c Fox b Neale.......................................................................................................................28

OSWALD-JACOBS b Neale....................................................................................................................33

STEVENS b Vyakaranam...........................................................................................................................7

CLARKE b Gabriel....................................................................................................................................19

WESTON not out.........................................................................................................................................9

EXTRAS......................................................................................................................................................18

Total (35 overs).......................................................................................................................................150

BOWLING Gabriel 12-1-61-2 Simms 7-1-16-0 Neale 10-2-38-2 Vyakaranam 6-0-18-1

PELSALL (13pts) drew with OLTON & WW (5pts)

Report to follow...

12/05/2007 (Matchday 2)

Studley v Pelsall

Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League Division 3

STUDLEY WON TOSS AND FIELDED FIRST

PELSALL

GRAINGER lbw Nazir (O)........................................................................................................................13

HOLMES b Nazir (J)..................................................................................................................................25

OSWALD-JACOBS c Nazir (O) b Udick.................................................................................................28

STEVENS b Nazir (J)..................................................................................................................................8

CLARKE c Nazir (J) b Udick....................................................................................................................17

McPHERSON b Lewis................................................................................................................................1

JONES b Udick........................................................................................................................................... 4

GREEN c Gregory b Lewis......................................................................................................................19

WESTON run out.........................................................................................................................................3

RIDGWAY not out........................................................................................................................................6

HILL c Roberts b Lewis............................................................................................................................ 1

EXTRAS......................................................................................................................................................16

Total (43.3 overs)....................................................................................................................................141

BOWLING Miller 7-1-21-0 Harris 4-1-12-0 Nazir (O) 8-1-41-0 Nazir (J) 7-1-29-2 Lewis 10.3-3-20-3 Udick 7-3-16-3

STUDLEY

UDICK c Green b Oswald-Jacobs.........................................................................................................40

SMITH b Weston.......................................................................................................................................21

STAMENKOVIC lbw Weston......................................................................................................................5

MILLER c Hill b Oswald-Jacobs...............................................................................................................3

EDWARD c Holmes b Oswald-Jacobs...................................................................................................1

NAZIR (O) not out......................................................................................................................................46

LEWIS c McPherson b Weston.................................................................................................................5

NAZIR (J) lbw Oswald-Jacobs..................................................................................................................0

HARRIS not out............................................................................................................................................0

EXTRAS......................................................................................................................................................24

Total (35.1 overs)....................................................................................................................................145

BOWLING Ridgway 7-0-23-0 Green 6-0-24-0 Oswald-Jacobs 11.1-4-28-4 Weston-11-1-59-3

PELSALL (4pts) lost to STUDLEY (20pts)

05/05/2007 (Matchday 1)

Pelsall v Coleshill

Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League Division 3

Pelsall 153, Coleshill 154-2 won by 8 wickets

Scorecard coming soon...

Pelsall began their season in the Birmingham League Division 3 with a whopping 8 wicket defeat inside 31 over’s at the hands of Coleshill. It hopefully will act as a wake-up call to the Walsall Road contingent in a division which can very much be described as the trap door division back to the Staffs Clubs with four teams relegated each season.

The two warm-up games in April went so well with two resounding victories against Beacon and 2nd Division Fordhouses. Lachlan Oswald-Jacobs Pelsall’s South Australian rookie player had notched two undefeated centuries on his willow. However, when Pelsall were invited to bat by Coleshill the stark reality dawned. It was an uncharacteristic lively track with Trilloe (3-55) and Crotty (2-38) providing the necessary penetration. Barton was first to go, whizzing a ball high into the hands of a wide mid on. Grainger followed with a jaffer that fled to first slip and at 2 down after 6 over’s the home side were very much on the back foot.

There then followed a short recovery with Oswald-Jacobs (25) and Stevens (10) until the later slapped a sharp catch back to bowler Trilloe. Clarke hit a rapid 36 which stabilised the innings until three wickets, including two ducks, left Pelsall perilously close to a meagre score.

However, cricket has the odd twist and turn and the tail wagged with No.10 batsman Weston (42) and Wicket Keeper Hill (16 no) conjured up a feast of entertaining runs in a last wicket partnership of 52. The innings finishing on 153 inside 36 overs.

It was not enough unfortunately, as Bhattie (36) and Baker (71 no) collected the winning points by making light of the Pelsall bowling attack.

This will be a rude awakening for the Walsall Road side who whimsically could have blamed it all on the newspaper photographer who turned up!. A bit of a variation on the commentators curse. Not an acceptable excuse I’m afraid.

COLESHILL WON TOSS AND FIELDED FIRST

PELSALL

GRAINGER c Bird b Trilloe........................................................................................................................0

BARTON c Trilloe b Crotty..........................................................................................................................1

OSWALD-JACOBS c Poulton b Pollock................................................................................................25

STEVENS c&b Crotty................................................................................................................................10

CLARKE c Craig b Bird............................................................................................................................36

McPHERSON b Pollock.............................................................................................................................0

HOLMES c Poulton b Trilloe......................................................................................................................7

GREEN lbw Bird..........................................................................................................................................0

RIDGWAY c Bashford b Pollock...............................................................................................................0

WESTON c Poulton b Trilloe...................................................................................................................41

HILL not out................................................................................................................................................16

EXTRAS......................................................................................................................................................17

Total (36.5 overs)....................................................................................................................................153

BOWLING Trilloe 13.5-1-55-3 Crotty 9-1-38-2 Pollock 5-1-14-3 Bird 8-0-33-2

COLESHILL

POULTON c Grainger b Ridgway..........................................................................................................15

BHATTI lbw Oswald-Jacobs...................................................................................................................38

BAKER not out...........................................................................................................................................71

RENOLDS not out.......................................................................................................................................5

EXTRAS......................................................................................................................................................26

Total (31 overs).......................................................................................................................................155

BOWLING Oswald-Jacobs 11-2-36-1 Weston 4-0-25-0 Ridgway 5-0-33-1 Green 4-0-23-0 Holmes 7-2-28-0

PELSALL (1pt) lost to COLESHILL (20pts)