TWF Floodlit Night Two:
Night Two of the TWF Floodlit began with Beacon entering the fray against the new boys Pelsall, fresh after defeating champions Wombourne on the opening night.
Pelsall won the toss and elected to bat first with Ahsan Akbar taking the lead, striking a notable 32 from 26 balls. Bulpitt was lost early, thanks to quick thinking from Josh Chesworth and Peter Stevens making a small cameo with 11 from 6 deliveries. Raul Ram joined Akbar at the half wat point striking an excellent 34 from 27 deliveries building Pelsall’s score to 125-9 before being removed by Chesworth 8 balls from the end. Tom Wright was the final man to be dismissed, this time by Tom Wright, for 8. Pelsall, 141 all out from 95 deliveries.
Beacon’s opening Pair of James Fildes and Tom Elwell had an almighty disastrous start, both being removed by Bulpitt for a duck each. Hassan and Oli Green were next to go, Jamie Holmes and Smit Metha being the bowlers to strike this time as Beacon slumped to 25-4 in reply. With Mike Brookes following his fellow clubmen, Max Lee was thrust into the action alongside Captain Dan Green. Lee left the action on ball 68, his side 98-6 with Josh Chesworth next to contribute with the bat. All the while Dan Green making quick progress, climbing to 42 from 33 deliveries, Jamie Holmes removing the skipper 12 balls from the end. Chesworth and Keeper Roger Fildes held their nerve with 5 to spare, passing Beacon’s total and throwing down the Gauntlet for the holders on Wednesday Night.
The 8pm match saw the hosts enter the TWF cauldron for the first time this season, with fill-in captain Ben Robinson primed to get off to a good start. The Quatt side pitted against them was in danger of automatic elimination if the result did not go their way.
Captain Jed Edwards elected to bat when the coin landed in his favour and from the outset it looked to be a slow scoring affair. Ryan Wheldon opened the batting alongside Deepak Khadri and it wasn’t long before the latter had rejoined his team in the tent as Connor Smith struck with the first delivery fired down at Quatt’s ringer. The batsman arriving to the crease at number 3, Tom Whitney would eventually keep the innings together, with a patient 45 from 44 balls as Kuldeep Diwan and Daniel Plank fell alongside Wheldon, thanks to the bowling of Matt Jeavons and Ollie Walker. Alex Starr was next to turn his hand to the innings, building slowly and offering the support required for Whitney, as Starr finished on 46 from 39 before falling to Walker with two balls to spare. Himley requiring 114 from their 100 balls.
With their 2023 heartache fresh in the memory, Himley strode into the darkness with a job to do. Their plans were somewhat scupper as Walker fell for 6 off the bowling of Diwan, bringing Connor Smith to the crease. James Clark almost made it to the half way stage before being castled by Alex Biddle for 20 and it looked that the seemingly paltry amount set for the hosts was getting tougher by the ball. Himley’s overseas then failed to stop the rot alongside the bottom order. As the run rate climbed and wickets fell, the insurmountable total became too much for Himley’s rear order, with Ben Southern falling with the last wicket from the final ball of the game.
It's Fordhouses for Himley tonight with the home side requiring a win to stand any chance of making the semi finals. As for Quatt, they sit in second place hoping their old foes Fordhouses can help them out to qualify.