Stratford skipper Brown hails team spirit after nail-biting win

SKIPPER Mike Brown has praised Stratford’s team spirit following their nail-biting victory over C&R Hawks at Swans Nest Lane on Saturday.

Brown and Witts claimed five wickets apiece as the Panthers secured a one-wicket success over the Hawks, who moved up with them from Birmingham League Division Three last summer.

But Stratford made hard work of it, and a sorry run of six ducks put victory in doubt before the last-wicket pair of Brown and James Urquhart added four to the total to see them squeeze over the line.

Brown said: “I said when we’d lost a few games that our team spirit would get us through the next few weeks — and that’s what’s happened.

“It was a great game to be part of, but we certainly made hard work of it and that’s something we seem to be specialists at doing.

“It was a similar game to against Penkridge, where we gave our wickets away rather than to good bowling.

“There were six ducks and we know that is not good enough. We now need to work on putting some big scores together for future weeks.”

What will have pleased the skipper is the Stratford attack, which dismissed Hawks for 79 with Witts and Brown himself bowling unchanged to take 5-27 and 5-46 respectively.

Omar Ali hit 35 in 28 balls for the Hawks, but only one other batsman reached double figures.

“Aidy bowled well the previous week and he kept it tight again,” said Brown.

“I managed to knock over the top order and I felt like I had a good rhythm.

“With Tom (Grundy) being out there’s been a lot more pressure on my shoulders and I’ve enjoyed that bit of extra pressure.”

Like the Hawks, Stratford struggled with their batting and only Rob West (36) scored over 20.

Knocks from Chris Calcott (19) and David Bailey (13) proved decisive before Brown and Urquhart finished the job.

Opening bowler Grundy will return for this weekend’s game at second-from-bottom Coventry NW, having recovered from a shoulder injury.

Ed Cunynghame also comes in for Andy Fisher, who drops to the 2nd XI.

Brown added: “The Coventry game is a really important one.

“It’s a local derby, they are a couple of places below us in the table and it’s a good chance to get another win.

“If we do that, then the table will be looking much rosier.”

Stratford: Adams, Bailey (c), Calcott (wk), Cunynghame, Derrick, Douthwaite, Grundy, Price, Urquhart, West, Witts.