Wormelow 1st XI welcomed promotion chasing Coombs Wood 1st XI to Kennelfield, with perfect conditions for batting it was no surprise when home captain Tom Cutler lost the toss and his side were asked to field first.

Opening batsmen G Abbas and I Riaz looked to take full advantage of the conditions as they built a solid partnership against the new ball attack of Cutler and Ali Main.

Wormelow eventually made their first breakthrough of the day when Jeewan Puri bowled Riaz (23) with the score on 104. This brought the prolific C Whyte to the crease, and he looked in ominous form from the first ball he faced.

All rounder Elliott Williams (2-53) cleaned up G Abbas (73) and followed this up with the wicket of visiting skipper D Jones (26), aided by a stunning reflex catch from veteran Nigel Evans at square leg. Evans (2-33) picked up a couple of wickets of his own as the visitors were reduced to 200-5 after 40 overs.

The bowlers continued to work hard in sweltering conditions. The experienced Ian Herbert picked up the big wicket of Whyte (76) who was well held by Main at long on. Further wickets fell to Cutler (1-42) and Herbert (3-50) as the Coombs Wood innings finished on 285 all out, the 10th wicket coming courtesy of a run out off the final ball of the 50th over.

A makeshift Wormelow batting line up were soon struggling on 22-2 in their run chase with Robbie Stonadge (4) and Luke Jones (10) back in the pavilion. Herbert and Williams looked to rebuild the innings, whilst being fully aware of the need to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Herbert (16) went for one attacking shot to many and holed out to mid on just before the drinks break. A couple more quick wickets for the visitors saw Wormelow struggling on 77-5 in the 20th over, Main (5) and Melly (1) the men to depart.

Skipper Cutler joined Williams and the pair added 33 for the sixth wicket before Cutler departed for 17. Williams had continued to bat well as wickets fell around him and he now had George Lancaster for company and the pair looked to take the attack to Coombs Wood. Their partnership had reached 97 when a tired Williams was caught at mid wicket for a superb 98. The following over saw the dismissal of Lancaster for 34 and with Wormelow now 209-8 all hopes of an unlikely victory had gone. Wormelow were finally all out for 219 off the final ball of the 50th over.

I Riaz 3-39 and A Gregory 2-30 were the pick of the visiting attack. A 66 run run defeat for Wormelow but there were a number of positives to take from the game.