Church Aston hosted Montgomery II’s hoping to continue their winning ways in the FBC Manby Bowdler League.
With the weather in mind the game was reduced to 35 overs a side and, amazingly, started on time Aston being asked to bat on what looked a damp, slow wicket.
Aston’s openers started steadily and were able to cope with the low bounce of the pitch with both men getting into the twenties.
However, Montgomery were able to make a breakthrough when a poor shot saw A Ranade pull the ball onto his own stumps.
Incomer T Mani immediately started to attack, hitting three sixes in his innings of 42.
In usual style, Aston then lost a couple of quick wickets trying to push the score along with overs running out and wickets remaining. G Saini (34no) added some quick runs at the end and Aston ended on a respectable 180 off their 35 overs.
Aston started well with the ball, keeping it tight in the first ten overs.
But Montgomery opener P Betts seemed to get his eye in and started to score freely smashing boundaries to all parts of the ground in his 59.
He was assisted by J Barker (33) and Montgomery started to look like they could win.
The rain then started to fall and Aston’s bowlers had to work hard as the ball and the pitch became wetter and wetter.
They were able to grab some quick wickets, to put themselves back in the match so when the fifth wicket fell Montgomery still needed approximately 49 runs to win off five overs.
They kept chasing but it was too tough a task and they closed on 167 off their 35 overs.
The pick of the Aston bowlers were A Nadkarni (2-32) and
R Patel (2-42)
Aston travel to Worfield tomorrow hoping to keep their good form and lose the weather.
