Whitchurch’s cricketers host lowly Tamworth on Saturday (noon) in the first game of the second half of their Birmingham League second division campaign still frustrated by letting a golden chance of victory slip through their fingers last weekend.
The Heath Road men, who remain sixth in the table, were in the driving seat for long stages of their match at Cannock and looked well set to chase down their target before a late collapse proved costly and left them hanging on for a losing draw worth seven points.
Whitchurch skipper Simon Bowen found it hard to hide his disappointment and felt his side were guilty of complacency after failing to see the job through.
“It was really frustrating because we dominated throughout the whole day and then chucked it away at the end,” admitted Bowen.
“We lost a couple of wickets and it was rabbit in the headlights time. I can only put it down to complacency.”
Cannock batted first and, thanks in chief to an unbeaten 104 from former Staffordshire Minor Counties allrounder David Womble, posted 233-5, with Martin Williams (2-48) the pick of the Whitchurch attack.
Opener Simon Gregory laid solid foundations to the visitors’ reply with an eye-catching 76 and even when he headed back to the pavilion, Whitchurch looked on course to record an impressive win.
Richard Oliver (46), Bowen (32) and Ian Gregory (23) all weighed in but from 203-3 with 10 overs remaining, the north Shropshire side lost their way, pegged back by 4-56 from man of the match Womble, as they pulled up short of their target on 219-9.
Whitchurch now hope for a better result at home to Tamworth this weekend having lost by three wickets to the Staffordshire strugglers on the opening day of the season.
WHITCHURCH II, meanwhile, boosted their position in the reserve division three table after getting the better of Eastnor by seven wickets.
James Wojda grabbed 4-39 from 15 overs and Peter Ridley 2-20 as Eastnor were removed for 168 before Whitchurch, who travel to title hopefuls Brockhampton II on Saturday, responded with 172-7 inside 30 overs.
Dave Fowles, who came in at No 6, top scored with 41 before Dave Weaver saw the job through with an unbeaten 38 to leave the Herefordshire side rooted to the foot of the table.Picture – page 79.
By Stuart Dunn