PERSHORE’S Matt Brace took seven wickets in a scintillating five-over spell to secure his side a vital Birmingham League Division Two victory at Sutton Coldfield on Saturday.
In a reduced-overs game due to rain, Pershore batted first and scored 215-8 off 42 overs thanks to some important contributions from Liam Ridings (34), Chris Ridings (27) and Arshad Mahmood (25), but it was Chris Miles’ 67 which provided the backbone of the innings. Miles hit four fours and a six in his unbeaten knock.
Sutton Coldfield were cruising at 134-1 and looked well on track to overhaul the target thanks to a 113-run second-wicket partnership.
However, the introduction of Brace broke this stand as he removed the dangerous Lee Thomason for 51.
Charlie Cross then removed the other set batsman – Tom Eustace – for 80 off 83 balls before Brace scooped the remainder of the wickets, less a run out by Steve Miles, in a remarkable bowling display as he took 7-12 runs off five overs.
The hosts lost nine wickets for just 36 runs as they were all out for 170.
However, Pershore were unable to build on this victory as they went down to fellow relegation-battlers Streetly by 51 runs on Monday.
After restricting the visitors to 166-8 off their 50 overs thanks to fine bowling from Taylor Pugh (3-16 off ten) and Andy Hill (3-48), the hosts were skittled out for 115 despite an eighth-wicket stand of 42 between Pugh (24no) and Hill (19).
The result leaves the Plums nine points above the bottom two with three matches remaining, the first of which is Saturday’s visit to promotion-chasing C&R Hawks.