Solihull Municipal 1st v Newbold on Avon 1st
Warks Div 5 1st teams
Solihull 67 all out, Newbold 68-6
Newbold won by 4 wickets
The script had been written for this final rip roaring episode and alternative dramatic endings had been etched. The cast had not been told the real climax and the audience were filled with excited tension and anticipation.
The storyline read as follows; Newbold had started the season poorly, fielding weakened teams and being well beaten in 3 matches, but they had won all 11 other played matches.
Solihull, relegated last season from Division 4, had fired from day one -leading the league all season until recent weeks when Newbold had edged a 7 point advantage.
Both teams were safely promoted and as the fixture at Newbold had been rained off neither side knew what to expect from their opposition. Newbold had a good bowling attack, that was for sure ,having bowled out 5 teams for less than 100. Whilst Solihull regularly posted 200 plus runs and had a number of batsmen in good form. This was the title clincher and had all the elements you could want and being played at probably the best ground in the league on a well prepared pitch.
Solihull won the toss and decided to bat, a result that pleased Newbold Skipper Dan Scott ,as he would have inserted the opposition on a slightly damp pitch. Newbold's plan was to bowl very tightly and field well giving away no runs and putting pressure on the batsmen .When this pressure had gathered momentum, they would introduce the spinners and hope the batsmen, relieved from a barrage of accurate pace would strike out and then get in trouble against Newbold's very talented spin duo.
As plans go, it's always the implementation that counts. Newbold's team excelled .Matt Davies took the early wicket of Mamood for 0. He had scored 140 last week and was a prize scalp. Both Matt , Danny Scott and the fielders kept to the plan and off 14 over's, Solihull had grafted for only 21 runs. Dan caught and bowled young Stanley for 5 next over and off spinner Craig Scott was introduced . Immediately, Solihull's key batsmen Hughes and skipper Bissett went on the attack. Craig's first 2 over's went for 16 and in the meantime Dan switched to a mixture of off and leg spin also with variety in pace and flight . Bissett liked to sweep the slower bowlers and Danny, classically, countered with a faster ball ,which the Solihull Skipper duly tried to sweep only to top edge to Treharne catching comfortably. Next over Craig took a smart catch off his own big spinning off break to despatch Hughes and Solihull were 39-4 and in trouble. In tandem ,the brothers were turning the ball a lot and varying pace and length cleverly. Danny, being able to spot his leg spinners perfectly had the home batsmen tied in knots and feeling it was easier to hit Craig, they fell into the trap. Craig took wickets from attacking shots to balls that turned 'feet.'
Spectators were watching a superb display of bowling backed by excellent fielding from the whole of the Parkfield Road team. It was ,in a sporting analogy, like watching the subtle skills of Sugar Ray Leonard versus the Clubbing power of Roberto Duran (2nd fight !] .Newbold's bowling made Solihull look ordinary and they finished on 67 all out and blaming the pitch. Dan had bowled 15 over's for 14 runs with 9 maidens and had taken 3 wickets ,Matt Davies ,cleaning up the last wicket, had 2-14 off 10 and Craig took another 5 wicket haul for 35 runs off 11 over's. Johno had kept beautifully adding to the pressure and whilst denied one catch by the umpire, had already taken the opener with an excellent one handed diving stretch which belied his advanced years. The Municipal side had taken 36 over's for their innings and as a result Newbold had 64 over's to lodge the 68 runs required to win. The umpire commented that '...if you take that long i'll cancel the game as a bore draw and shoot myself as well! ..'
With time to play on before tea , Paul Evans and Craig Scott led the batting reply .Newbold, as usual, lost wickets chasing a small total , but with Danny Treharne hitting a typically fast 22 and Ex Six hitting supremo Simon Blundell , posting a mature 19 (only 2 sixes] ,Newbold made the target before Tea in less than 19 over's.
Skipper Dan Scott was delighted by the success and praised the squad for the whole hearted commitment and team spirit shown all season. He quickly looked to the future predicting that this young Newbold side ,if kept together ,would rise through the leagues in coming years and with off field developments planned , Newbold was the place to play now and years to come.
Newbold play bottom team Willclare next week at home as newly crowned champions and the fun will start after that match (or during !?] Plans are afoot for a celebratory evening, which unfortunately doesn't include an open top bus parade by the all conquering team through the borough despite the rumours, but may well include some synchronised Jim Beam drinking!

Warwickshire League Division 5
Newbold 2nd XI v Solihull Municipal 2nd XI
Newbold 2nds 86 all out v Solihull Municipal 2nds 112 all out

Newbold entertained champions elect Solihull on Saturday and after winning the toss invited the visitors to bat on a damp track sodden from the recent rain but slowly drying out.
The Newbold opening bowling pair of Milner and Dudgeon beat the bat on numerous occasions, however opening bat Rowley took advantage of being dropped 1st over to cut and slash his way to a vital 35 as he punished any balls wide of off stump.
With the opening partnership taking the score past 50, the Newbold skipper introduced the wily skills of Dave Cheney who proceeded to put the brakes on and took 2 for 24 from his 15 overs and Nick Letts who started the rot with a wicket in his second over.
Youngster Dan O'Brien showed his potential with the ball by claiming a wicket in another tidy 5 over spell as Solihull started to lose wickets as the pressure built.
Mark Higham was then introduced to the attack and proceeded to mesmerize the lower order batsmen as he proceeded to take 4 wickets for 7 runs off 6 overs including Tilsney who was holding the batting together with a patient 31.
With Solihull all out for 112 in the 50th over Newbold fancied their chances of a prize scalp.
Newbold responded steadily but also lost a couple of early wickets as they moved along to 59 for 3 but then it all went wrong.
Solihull introduced their spin bowler John Stanley and he proceeded to weave his magic as he removed Meacham for 20 and Dudgeon for 12.
He promptly wiped though the lower order taking 6 for 23 as Newbold were skittled out for 86 and a 26 run defeat.
With Bridge Trust losing this result gave the league title to Solihull.
An entertaining game where Newbold for the 3rd time in recent weeks managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.