CNW are on the up after latest result

NEWLY-PROMOTED Coventry & North Warwickshire have provided early-season surprises for a number of opponents and fellow newcomers Tamworth, who suffered a four wicket setback at Binley Road, became their latest victims.

Tall paceman Sameer Vohra set CNW on their way by grabbing 5-43 as the visitors were seen off for 160 and it could have been much worse for Tamworth who slipped to 22 for five before skipper Jacob Flower dug in for a gritty 116-ball 45.

After former Staffordshire batter Stuart Burrows blasted a typically quickfire 25, Liam Brazier made a more measured 41 while adding 69 seventhwicket runs with his captain.

Harry Horsley took 3-33 for CNW whose chase was then built around a solid knock by opener Will Iles whose calm innings produced an unbeaten 120-ball 77.

This fine effort eventually snuffed out Tamworth’s hopes which had flickered strongly when Brazier (3-28) reduced the hosts to 102 for six before Harris Ajaz (30no) joined Iles in an unbroken 59-run matchclinching seventh wicket alliance.

While Coventry occupy third place in the Division Two table after six games Leamington have not bounced back from their 2022 relegation and now lie eighth of 12 after an eight wicket thrashing by Dorridge.

Four wickets from Rumesh Buddhika and three from Seth Westley grabbed the limelight for the visitors but it was veteran Aussie seamer David Ball that claimed the all-important scalp of Spa’s West Indian test star Shane Dowrich for just 15. This fine bowling effort despatched the hosts for just 99 before Buddhika put his pads on and finished the job in the 29th over with an unbeaten 45.