PERSHORE were indebted to the Miles brothers — firstly, Chris with the bat, then Steve with the ball — as they reached the final of the Worcestershire County Board’s Gray’s County Cup after demolishing Stourbridge by 36 runs.
Batting first, Pershore were in trouble early on at 16-2. However, a 60-run partnership between Chris Ridings (30) and Chris Miles set a solid platform.
Miles smashed 69 off 49 balls, including three sixes, as Pershore hit out in the later overs. Andrew Hill’s late cameo of 19 off only five balls helped them to reach an above-par 171 off their 20 overs.
In response Stourbridge lost a wicket to the first ball, bowled by Darren Critcher. Although a third-wicket partnership of 65 between Dwayne Crossgill (49) and Nathan Crudeli (39) kept the home side in the hunt, tight bowling by Taylor Pugh who conceded just 15 runs off his four overs, including a maiden, meant the required rate continued to climb.
The reintroduction of Steve Miles to the attack, after his first over had gone for 13, sparked a batting collapse and ensured a Pershore victory.
Miles took seven wickets for only 17. In effect, his three overs at the end cost just four runs, included a maiden and seven wickets as Stourbridge were bowled out for 135.
The final is scheduled to be played on Sunday, September 16 at Worcesterhire’s home ground at New Road, Worcester.
