Rowington made the short trip to the Warwick County Council ground on Saturday and, after a week of rain, decided to have a bowl.

 

It wasn't long before opener Steve Jay had Niggar (4) out plum LBW but Hobbis rode his luck with edge after edge through the slips, much to Jay's frustration! Edwards joined Hobbis and Jay's old opening partner, Eike Gilbert, joined forces with his ally and soon despatched Edwards (5) who lobbed one up to Captain Scott Rogers. Duncan Garner came in and a short partnership began to take shape. Dale Glover replaced Jay, he struggled to find his line and Garner was getting frustrated but suddenly Glover got it right and Garner was clean bowled for 14. Hobbis was still there but his luck changed and he edged one to Naz Nazir behind the stumps, again off Glover, for a streaky 24. Leon Clarke then replaced Glover and, as the clouds came over, Rogers decided it was his time for a bowl. It took Warwick's batsmen 4 overs before they scored a run off Ebenezer Rogers. Clarke then bowled Hewitt (7), Garratt edged again to Nazir, this time off Elmer Rogers and, although Rose came in and played some big shots, he soon went LBW to Clarke. Andy Shaw replaced the expensive Rogers and also got in on the act, getting Buss to sky one for Rogers to pouch and he made the short trip back to the depot for 6. Glover then ran out Edwards (10) and Gilbert came back to finish Warwick off, getting Sidwell bowled for a duck. Warwick ended 112 all out in 41 overs.

The Rs bowlers, Jay 1 - 29 (15 off the edge of Hobbis' bat!), Gilbert 2 - 16, Glover 2 - 19, Rogers 1 - 7, Clarke 2 - 16 and Shaw 1 - 17.

In reply Alex Smith seemed to think the bat was for leaning on as he allowed Rogers to get all the runs in the first 10 overs. Tavare Smith then hit a four, much to the delight of the crowd, and the score had moved to 63 before Rogers got bowled on 44, Smith (10) joined him a run later and Simon Cross lived up to his name as he was bowled a few runs later, much to his disgust, for 3. The Rs were making hard work of this.....Matt Page took a hit on the head and it must have sent the blood rushing to it as he then charged the next ball and was stumped off Niggar's bowling but Eike Gilbert steadied the ship aided by Clive Haywood. With the score on 106 Haywood got adjudged LBW but Young Glover came in and slapped a quick four and, along with Gilbert's 24 no, they guided the Rs home.

Sidwell 2 - 22, Edwards 1 - 14, Niggar 1- 19 and Reynolds 1 - 6 the wicket takers but Gardner bowled 10 overs for 11 runs.

Steve Jay