IN THE Warwickshire County Premier Division derby between Coventry & North Warwickshire and Rugby, it was the latter who prevailed by 79 runs at Binley Road.
The hosts were set a 256 target score having decided to field first, but found runs hard to come by in reply when being skittled out for just 176 inside 41 overs – with Rugby’s Wes Lansdale (76) and Michael Powell (65) hitting sizeable totals for their side.
Jeevan Barhey (39) helped fire up the visitors’ challenge with a stand of 59 alongside opener Charlie Robards (24) for the second wicket, whilst the middle order trio of Owen Edwards (30), Landsdale and Powell were unrelenting in their quest for runs with 23 boundary hits and three sixes between them.
Rugby’s skipper Matthew Ewer was inspired with a three-wicket haul, conceding just 33 runs for his efforts, a total that Landsdale (3-40) was keen to replicate.
With Coventry hopes looking glum at 49-4, the combination of 63 runs between skipper Vikram Sodhi (39) and Anit Kaushik (43) reinvigorated the home side somewhat.
But with a lack of a follow-up, and only tailenders George Neal (22, no), Sameer Vohra (12, lbw) and Jaspal Phull (12) achieving double figures for Coventry & NW, and it was no surprise as to why Rugby headed home with the victory.
Remaining third in the standings, Coventry will visit strugglers Bedworth, tenth, on Saturday.
