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.

Floodlit Night One: 
On Night Two at Stourbridge Road it was the tournaments’ new boys that were the disruptors to last season’s competitors with Fordhouses and Pelsall opening their Floodlit accounts at the first time of asking.

Jem Stack’s side arrived on the first evening in emphatic form, having sat at the top of the South Staffordshire Premier Division for most of the season. They took on leaders of the Shropshire Premier League, Quatt in the opening game. 

Quatt won the toss, elected to bat and were up against a strong effort from the Fordhouses bowling attack from the outset, finding themselves 48-3 after the first powerplay. Kuldeep Diwan and Daniel Plank built a solid partnership in reply. finding and clearing the fence  with ease, carrying Jed Edwards side to 116-4 when Diwan fell to the bowling of Lewis Peat for 42. His partner soon followed for 44 off the bowling of Peat as Quatt crawled to 167-8 after their 100 balls. 

Fordhouses had the bat of Niall Cooper to thank from the outset of the innings. His 55 minute stint was etched with class, striking 7 fours and 4 sixes on the way to a score of 74 from 44 deliveries. Kuldeep Diwan mercifully removed the opener to keep Quatt in with a chance as wickets fell. Jack Pope then arrived at the crease in a bid to continue Fordhouses’s push to the total, his score of 45 from 25 deliveries vital in getting the side from WV10, over the line. 

Chance at retribution is imminent for Quatt as they face Himley tonight in the 8pm game, with Fordhouses taking on the hosts on Wednesday evening. 

The prime time game at Stourbridge Road brought the Champions, Wombourne, back to the ground where they achieved floodlit glory one year ago. Facing them was a Pelsall side experiencing their first taste of Floodlit action. 

It was the new boys that would take the batting reigns first up. Bulpitt making 22 having lost his opening partner Ahsan Akbar early on. Peter Stevens soon followed, bringing the partnership of Smit Metha and Raul Ram to the crease, creating a partnership of 40. Pelsall climbed to 86-4 when Ram fell, and were 101-5 when Jack Portsmouth became Ollie Siviter’s third victim of the evening. The combination of Siviter and Captain Zac Smith squeezed the visitors to 129-8 from their 100 balls. A total considerably under par. 

Chad Brandrick and Ben Hudson opened the second innings and soon enough the champions were on rough terrain. Ben Hudson was caught and bowled by Bulpitt without scoring as was his captain for a Golden Duck. Jimmy Howell came to the crease and soon breathed life into the Wombourne innings making an unbeaten 46 from 44 deliveries, becoming the anchor the holders needed. Brandrick fell for 28, and Wombourne’s chances dipped briefly, before Ollie Siviter’s lusty blow towards the end bought together a tied game. 

Pelsall edged the first ever super 5 in floodlit history from their final delivery, they face Beacon tonight at 5:45. Meanwhile the Champions will be wanting more from their second game with Beacon on Wednesday Night if they have any hope of retaining.

New boys Fordhouses kick Floodlit 2024 off as they take on Quatt in the first game at 17:45. 

Jem Stack’s side make their maiden voyage in the Floodlit, hoping to replicate their good league form so far this season. They sit atop the South Staffordshire Premier Division after 18 rounds of the competition, the current favourites to achieve promotion to the Birmingham League. The Wobaston Road outfit will be bolstered by ringers, Jack Pope, Jacques Banton and Alex McChristie as they hope to achieve Floodlit glory at the first time of asking. 

Alike their opponents, Quatt Cricket Club arrive at Stourbridge Road also first in their respective division, leading the Shropshire Premier League, after 18 games. The 2023 campaign ended at the hands of current Champions Wombourne, yet with a valiant effort fresh in the memory, Jed Edwards’ side are hungry to challenge once more. Joining them as Ringers are Deepak Khatri, Jason Oakes and Sam Whitney.

After a disappointing campaign last year, Beacon’s Skipper Dan Green gives us his thoughts on this year’s competition.

It probably wasn’t the campaign you were hoping for last season, how can you go further into the competition in this season’s iteration? 

Dan Green - Last year was the first experience playing under the lights for a lot of us. Hoping with some exciting additions to the team and a year of experience we can play some exciting cricket and get ourselves into the semis this year! 

And with that, you ringers this time around are looking to boost you further, is there anyone to look out for this campaign? 

Dan Green - All three of our ringers are exciting and whichever one we use will bolster us! Matt Pardoe is in some excellent form currently and hoping he can continue it with us. Ollie is always exciting to watch bat in any game let along under the lights on short boundaries. 

And lastly, how are you looking forward to the prospect of cricket under the lights, in front of a big crowd and it being all for a good cause?

Dan Green - TWF is an amazing charity doing some incredibly important work. We’re very lucky we get this opportunity to play under the lights infront of plenty of people and represent our club. Excited to get started!

Himley's skipper Ollie Westbury gives us he's thought as his side aim to go one better than last year.

Wes, you came up short last season against local rivals Wombourne. It was a tight affair that you just ended up on the wrong side of. What do your team need to do to go one better this season?

Wes - We played some good cricket in the competition last season but were beaten by the better side on the night in the final. We have had a good season so far with our Saturday cricket and the aim is to try and take some momentum from the Birmingham League into this week. In this format of the game, we must play with no fear and if we do that, we will be there or thereabouts. 

You know of the threat Wombourne pose in the competition. Are there any other sides you're watching closely ahead of the tournament?

Wes - Quatt. We have come across Deepak Khatri in the league this season and he is a very good cricketer with both bat and ball. He is a very destructive player so if he gets going, it could be a long night for any bowling attack. 

And lastly, it's going to be a big week at Stourbridge Road. Can you describe the feeling of playing under the lights in the competition, along with the cause you're playing for?

Wes - One of the things that makes the Floodlit so special is that we as amateur cricketers very rarely get the opportunity to play in front of crowds. That is something that is very unique about the competition and with the number of people who were there to watch last year, we hope it will be the same again this time around. The Whistle Foundation do great work, and to be able to raise money for charity makes it all the more worthwhile.