Bayliss still confident of winning promotion
OVERSEAS star Adam Bayliss remains confident Stratford can win promotion this season despite last Saturday’s setback at Birmingham Premier League Division Three leaders Newport.
Stratford’s hopes of a top-two finish were dealt a blow as Newport cruised to a seven-wicket success at Audley Avenue.
The defeat sees the Panthers drop to fourth in the table, but all-rounder Bayliss, son of England head coach Trevor Bayliss, still feels Stratford have more than enough quality to go up this summer.
“Promotion is the focus,” said the 22-year-old, who plays Grade cricket for Penrith District, just outside of Sydney.
“Anything less than that and we will all be disappointed. It’s absolutely still on for us — that’s the aim and we’ve definitely got to get back into Division Two.
“We have the team to do it. There’s a great bunch of players here — we bat fairly deep and we also have plenty of options with the ball.
“We’re now playing a few teams that are below us, so I’m hopeful we can put a few wins together. We’re still in a very good position.”
Shabbir Khan did the damage on Saturday with 6-60 as the Panthers were dismissed for just 187.
Only Alex Marney (61) offered any resistance to the Newport attack.
The home side lost three early wickets before Maisam Hasnain (108no) and Mark Downes (59no) saw them home without further alarm.
Skipper Mike Brown (2-45) was the pick of the Stratford bowlers.
“We didn’t bat as well as we could have,” Bayliss admitted.
“Parts of our bowling and fielding could have also been much better.”
There was better news for Stratford 2nds, who moved up to fourth in the Second South 2nd XI Division table following a five-wicket success over Pershore at Swans Nest Lane.
Anthony Pratley (4-53) and Sam Douthwaite (3-46) took seven wickets between them as Pershore were skittled out for 181.
Stratford’s run chase was well measured, in the knowledge they did not have to take too many risks on what proved to be a slow deck.
At times it proved difficult to score, especially against the slower Pershore bowlers.
Will Noble (41) and Henry Hopkins (36) laid a strong platform with an excellent 89 opening run partnership.
Then, despite a flurry of wickets in the middle of the innings, a steady 43-run partnership for the fifth wicket from skipper Josh Hickman and Sam Douthwaite got Stratford over the line with 11 balls to spare.
“It was another excellent performance and result against a decent Pershore side,” said Hickman.
“We matched the high standards we set in the field the week before and our bowling was superb.”
Stratford 2nds are back at Swans Nest Lane this Saturday when they take on Dorridge (12.30pm).
