Rushwick 241-8 Tenbury 153-2

AGAINST an accurate Rushwick attack, Tenbury got off to a slow start chasing a big target and then shut up shop to claim a losing draw in Division Four of the Crusader Worcestershire County League at Penlu on Saturday.

When the visitors batted first they were in control from the start with their openers giving the innings a solid platform. Dobson had made 42 before Tenbury gained their first success, Darren Ingram taking the catch off the bowling of John Pearson.

There was little respite as number three Davies took up the challenge. He reached his half-century before falling leg before to Joe Reynolds. Opener Collins was closing in on a hundred when James Hunt induced him to give a catch to Ian Taylor when he had reached 80.

After this the Tenbury bowlers enjoyed more success and reduced the visitors to 241-8 at the close of their 50 overs, with Hunt finishing with 4-80 off 21 overs, a just reward for a sustained spell of bowling on a hot humid afternoon. Pearson finished with 2-13 and Reynolds 2-55.

Pearson (14) and Chris Giles found runs hard to come against some accurate bowling and when George Pearson fell soon afterwards the home team decided to bat out for the draw as they had little chance of winning.

Giles (61 no) and Dave Hunt (14 no) batted out the 50 overs to finish on 153-2, 89 runs short of the target. The major run source was extras that mounted to 63 as Rushwick became more and more frustrated with the negative tactics of the home side. The one consolation for the home team after another disappointing result is that they are still one point above Claverley at the bottom of the division.