Stratford slip to first defeat of season

STRATFORD suffered their first defeat of the season as Rugby’s impressive start in Birmingham League Division Three continued with a 24-run win by the DLS method.

An opening stand of 73 between Raj Chohan (33) and Asaad Qureshi (26) assisted by 19 wides from the Stratford bowlers, laid a platform which Matt Ewer took advantage of, clubbing 58 from 42 balls to see Rugby to 241 for nine in 50 overs.

James Urquhart took three for 46 for Stratford, who were given a boost by Dexter Purser (44) at the start of their innings.

He hit seven boundaries before he was out, but an interruption for rain meant that the game would rely on DLS to achieve a result.

Stratford’s final total of 148 for six saw them go down by 24 runs. The six wickets that fell were shared between Ewer, Vishaal Rathod and Owen Edwards.

Full report and reaction in this week's Herald