Defeat at Cleobury Mortimer, coupled with some unexpected results elsewhere, leaves Ross U15s anxiously looking over their shoulders in the latest Marches League standings.

Jim Lewis lost the toss for the first time since standing in as skipper and, having been asked to bat, openers Mike Jeffryes and Keith Flitton made a steady start against the Cleobury seamers. The opening stand had reached 32 in 7 overs before the hosts early switch to spin paid immediate dividends. Sam Evans had Jeffryes caught for 20 and quickly followed up with the wicket of Flitton for 14. Adam Davies again batted fluently to score 29 at better than a run a ball however another cluster of wickets saw Ross slip to 76-5 in the 16th over with Evans enjoying figures of 5-5 at this stage.

Charlie Cole and Jim Lewis added 36 for the sixth wicket but 112-5 became 112-7 as the first over after the drinks break saw Lewis (14) immediately followed back to the pavilion by Alex Springer. Alex Davies (9) and Cole (23) then took the total to 134 before both fell at the same score. Ross were then indebted to Paul Morris (9*) and Chloe Tingle (11) for an excellent last wicket stand of 27 to take the final total to 161 and two batting points. Evans eventually finishing with 5-27 for the hosts.

After a tea enhanced by Vikki Tingle’s birthday cake, Ross made an excellent start in the field. Opening bowlers Adam Davies and Paul Morris conceded just six runs in the first eight overs and the breakthrough came in the ninth as Davies bowled Cleobury captain Kemp for 2. Davies had figures of 1-18 off his first six overs, Morris 0-19 from eight and with Chloe Tingle (0-29) as frugal as ever Cleobury took until the 20th over for the run rate to reach 3 an over.

By this time Charlie Cole (1-28) had dismissed Wadhams for 12 thanks to a catch by Alex Davies but unfortunately that proved to be the final success for Ross as both Evans and Nick Griffiths offered chances that went down as the batsmen rode their luck before gradually becoming more fluent with time spent at the crease. Evans went on to reach an unbeaten 78 and Griffiths 46 as they eventually completed an 8 wicket victory for the hosts.