MILFORD HALL SEAL LEAGUE SUCCESS, BUT LOSE IN CUP

MILFORD Hall maintained their fine South Staffs County League Premier Division form by defeating Wombourne. However, their weekend didn’t have a happy ending as they bowed out of the National Village Knockout on Sunday to Welsh side Neyland.

It was better news on Saturday, though, as Milford Hall posted 248-9 from their 50 overs.

Waqar Saleem held his side’s innings together after they had lost two early wickets. Saleem (61) and Stu Phazey (34) added 58 for the 3rd wicket, but the fall of three quick wickets in the middle order reduced the home side to 175-7.

Sahal Malvernkar dominated a 55-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Ejaz Nawaz to put Milford back on track, but he fell just short of his century when he was caught for 93

Nathan Howell hit an explosive 107 from just 61 balls in the Wombourne innings with 90 of his runs coming in boundaries, but he was one of three wickets to fall in the middle order to leave their chase floundering on 140-6.

Nawaz accounted for three of the wickets to fall but it was Chris Dean who removed dangerman Howell. Wombourne managed to stop the rot before the Milford bowling struck back once more.

Alex Haynes (40) was the only batsman to offer significant support to Howell but when he was last man out to Rob Firth, Milford had secured a 44-run victory.

Nawaz was the leading bowler with an excellent return of 4-22 from his 10 overs while Stu Phazey (2-27) also produced fine figures.

The result means that Milford remain two points behind leaders Lichfield.

There was disappointment on Sunday when Milford Hall were beaten by Neyland. Invited to bat first, Milford Hall scored 191-6 with Stu Phazey (55) top scoring. James Davis fell one run short of his half-century, while Aaron Afford (35) was the best of the rest.

Chris Dean struck early in the Neyland innings to leave the visitors on 7-2, but Nicholas Kooman (64) kept them interested.

His resistance proved crucial with the Neyland middle order able to bat around him, notably Brad Mcdermottjenkins who hit three sixes as he put his side within touching distance of victory which eventually came with three wickets and three balls to spare.