Match Report
Avoncroft 1st XI won a high scoring encounter versus Redditch in the second round of the Carter Cup T20 Competition.
Avoncroft, electing to bat first on a glorious summers evening, enjoyed an electric paced start to the innings with Dan Elliot and Sam Hughes opening the batting – after 3 overs Croft were 50-1, Dan Elliot mixing some delightful drives with full blooded bludgeoning of the Redditch openers. Elliot was caught in the third over for a quick fire 21. The hard hitting didn’t end there though with Dave Anson joining Hughes at the crease. Hughes (15) departed in the 4th over aswell but Dave Anson was determined to continue the onslaught along with Craig Hughes. Both of them were finding the middle of the bat well and Anson in particular hitting some big straight sixes. In four overs they took 53 runs from the Redditch attack before Hughes (26) was caught behind with the score on 109. Anson (49) followed shortly after, 40 of his runs coming in boundaries. Josh Cound took a fancy to anything bowled on his legs and dispatched one over for 24. Jonty Heslop joined the party at the end aswell with some fantastic shots to put a quick 21 to his name. Croft finishing their innings on 190-8.
Redditch struggled against the early pace of Paul Athey and the control and variation of Jon Hunter. Facing a challenging run rate from ball one, the pair made it even more unlikely that Redditch would savour victory. The Redditch batsmen stuck to their task and applied pressure where they could and showed some strong hitting at times that did leave them with a faint glimmer of hope, this ended though in the 9th over when Will Sach caught Hussain off Hunter for 56. This started panic in the Redditch batting line up, at 8 overs they had been 89-0 but by the end of the 12th were 113-3, a catch from Will Sach off Hunter and a good catch in the deep from Josh Cound making the difference. Will Sach then took his chance with a run out and steadily, despite the presence of Ahmed to the end, Avoncroft began to see the victory line in sight. Redditch finished their 15 overs on 166-5.
Avoncroft are now through to the semi-final where they will face either Kempsey or Bromyard.
Match Report by Mark Whitehead, 26/5/17
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