A MIKE BROWN five-for condemned Coventry & North Warwickshire to a crushing six-wicket defeat that dented their Warwickshire League Premier Division title aspirations.
After Coventry were dismissed for just 110 runs inside 38 overs, Stratford-upon-Avon openers Dexter Purser (36) and Gareth Langman (30) laid the crucial foundation that allowed their side’s middle order to see the job through.
Stratford’s demon bowler Brown removed four of the opening five batsmen from the crease, while Tom Grundy (2-17) again starred with the crucial dismissal of Coventry’s main source of inspiration – opener Matthew Nobes (26) – at 39-5.
With the scoreline not looking too favourable for the visitors at Swans Nest Lane, Coventry & NW dug in and batted cautiously in an attempt to frustrate Stratford’s bowlers – the duo of Ibrahim Afzal (15) and Toby Palmer (26) the leading examples of this approach.
Josh Colwell (2-24) took a couple of wickets late on, including Sameer Hohra’s (0) dismissal to end Coventry’s innings, to instigate the hosts’ response earlier than anticipated.
Putting on an opening partnership of 71, Purser and Langman were both gone by 80-2 but were able to see Nick Pepper (16, no) and Luke Nardone (3, no) hand C&W their fourth defeat this term.
Fourth, Coventry host bottom-side Barby hoping to make immediate amends.
