Panthers skipper Brown downs Milford Hall
SKIPPER Mike Brown produced a superb all-round performance as Stratford returned from Milford Hall with a maximum 24 points on Saturday.
Brown hit 29 runs before claiming three wickets to ensure the Panthers claimed a 27-run victory in Staffordshire, a win that moves them up to second in Birmingham Premier League Division Theee.
Adam Bayliss shone with the ball once more, as he combined well with Brown, taking 5-58 as Milford were despatched for 132.
“It was a good all-round performance,” said Brown.
“From a personal point of view it was very nice to contribute with the bat. I knew if we could get anything above 130 or 140 then we’d have a chance.
“The game swung in both directions. At one stage we were 112-8 and they were definitely in the ascendancy. But credit to the boys we stuck in there and got our reward.”
Having lost the toss and being asked to bat in favourable bowling conditions, the away side struggled against the impressive Milford opening bowlers.
Both Abbas and Nawaz moved the ball both ways, at times being unplayable and they soon accounted for three of the Panthers’ top four.
A recovery of sorts was put together by David Bailey and Bayliss, however Bayliss was removed in the most unfortunate of circumstances being run out at the non striker’s end.
Despite the best efforts of Bailey (52) and debutant Charlie Blake (30), wickets kept falling and at 112-8, Stratford were looking at defending a low total.
Brown then came to the crease at the elevated position of number ten and decided to attack anything wide of the stumps.
Brown’s 29, plus some helpful extras, took the score up to 159 when the innings closed, a much more defendable position than it had looked at one stage.
As tea wasn’t ready, the Milford Hall innings started straight away, the late order runs had taken the wind out of the home sides sails and this showed as Stratford came out firing with the ball.
All bowlers made scoring difficult, with two wickets falling for 38 when the sides broke for tea.
After the interval, Adam Bayliss took control bowling 16 unchanged overs and ripping the middle order out of the Milford innings. He was ably assisted by Perry Derrick, who kept it tight throughout.
At 126-8, the game was still in the balance and Stratford knew a couple of loose overs would make Milford Hall the favourites again.
The returning Brown took the final two wickets in consecutive overs as Milford Hall fell 27 runs short of the victory target.
Bayliss was the pick of the bowlers with 5-58, with Brown (3-29) Derrick (1-31) and a run out completing a much-improved fielding effort from the Panthers.
Stratford return to Swans Nest Lane this Saturday, when they entertain Brewood.
Team: Adam Bayliss, Charlie Blake, Mike Brown (c), Chris Calcott (wk), Perry Derrick, Alex Marney, John Price, Jake Salmon, Rob West, Chris Whelan, Adrian Witts.
