Kenilworth Wardens win Midland Combined Counties League (25 Sep 1997)

25 September 1997

KENILWORTH WARDENS WIN MIDLAND COMBINED COUNTIES LEAGUE

from Alexander Rennie

Kenilworth Wardens won the MCCL on 20th September, after long-time leaders Bedworth were bowled out for 76 chasing a total of 142 from third-placed Highway. This allowed the Wardens to snatch the title thanks to their crushing 89-run victory against relegated Lichfield.

Wardens will be joined next year by local rivals Kenilworth Cricket Club who were promoted from the First Division to the Premier Division. This should provide an interesting local derby.

Having already won the Sunday League title, Wardens have had a most successful season, thanks in no small way to their overseas professional, Kotak. However, on the final day of the season the glory went to Cox, who scored 110 and then took six for 15.

Elsewhere, while Old Edwardians must have been disappointed not to retain their title, they took some consolation by having the League's highest run-scorer, Mike Hughes, who added 108 to his season's tally. He totalled 978 for the season, including a massive 198 not out in 50 overs against Hampton-in-Arden.

Brief scores: (home team first)

WALMLEY, 136 for 6, (JD Nicholls 4 for 32) drew with OLD EDWARDIANS, 234 for 4

(PC Clare 57, MK Hughes 108).

WORCESTER NORTON TAVERNERS, 116, (A Field 6 for 42) lost to DROITWICH, 231, (S Bryan 70, P Knight 4 for 38) by 115 runs.

STREETLY, 189, lost to WATER ORTON, 190 for 2, by eight wickets.

REDDITCH, 216 for 3, (Bird 5 for 82) drew with NUNEATON, 241 for 4, (D Blower 120, Gittins 58).

KENILWORTH WARDENS, 201 for 8, (Cox 110) beat LICHFIELD, 112, (Cox 6 for 15) by 89 runs.

BEDWORTH, 76, (S Startup4 for 25, D Bulpitt 6 for 32) lost to HIGHWAY 142 (Moin Mumtaz 56) by 66 runs.

HAMPTON-IN-ARDEN, 92 for 3, (C Griggs 41 not out) beat BLOSSOMFIELD 91 (S Hooper 4 for 38) by seven wickets.

Final table:

1st. Kenilworth Wardens, 353 pts.; 2nd. Bedworth, 347; 3rd. Highway, 343; 4th. Water Orton, 304; 5th. Walmley, 299; 6th. Droitwich, 296; 7th. Worcester Norton Taverners, 288; 8th. Old Edwardians, 281; 9th. Redditch, 259; 10th. Blossomfield, 242; 11th. Hampton-in-Arden; 12th. Nuneaton, 204; 13th. Streetly, 145; 14th. Lichfield, 144.

Relegated: Hampton-in-Arden, Nuneaton, Streetly, Lichfield. Promoted: Pelsall, Warwick, Four Oaks Saints, Kenilworth CC.

Thanks :: alexander.rennie@environment-agency.gov.uk