Words by Paul Smith at Stumped4Words.com
Swapnil Gugale’s superb 108, half-centuries from Jasper Davidson and Tejas Wagle and five wickets from skipper Tom Arnold steered Harborne to a thumping 147-run Birmingham Premier League Division Two home win over Wem.
The Indian pro and second-wicket partner Davidson (72) added 131 before the in-form Wagle (53) launched a late assault on the visitors’ attack which boosted Harborne to 317 for seven.
Dan Cohen claimed 5-65 for Wem who were soon struggling against Arnold’s new-ball burst.
Only Mohit Kale’s 38 provided much of an obstacle as Arnold claimed five of the first seven wickets to fall at a personal cost of 39 from 12 penetrative overs.
And the home side went on to overcome some lower-order resistance to wrap up the Wem innings in the 34thover with the total standing at 170.
Captain Arnold was quick to pay tribute to his batters’ consistent performance.
“It did a bit first up,” he said, “But Swappers got through it then Jasper came in and played really well.
“Wem put a couple of chances down but that happens, and once you bat 55 overs rather than always fighting fires you give yourselves a bit of a chance.
“Tejas was then brilliant again – just like he did against Bromsgrove he came in and dominated from ball one.
“Getting through the first 15 overs was difficult for both sides so I was pretty confident 317 would be enough and that was how it proved.
“Ironically it was the worst I’ve bowled in a while, but with 300 to chase they went pretty hard at it and with it seaming around early on I picked up some wickets as a result.
“We did the damage in the first hour so although there was a bit of late-order resistance by then it wasn’t ever going to change the game.”
After Tom Arnold’s 32 helped Gugale add 52 for the first home wicket Davidson struck six fours and three sixes in his excellent 105-ball 72.
Harborne’s 30-year-old Maharashtra right-hander then completed a fine ton in the company of Wagle before eventually falling for a 120-ball 108 containing 14 boundaries.
More agony remained for the Shropshire-based visitors as Wagle’s 28-ball 53 set the stage for a late 19-ball cameo from Tom Payne (33). The persevering Cohen finished with 5-68.
Wem’s response was soon in tatters at 28 for four and after Kale fell for 38 an early finish seemed likely.
The visitors’ ninth-wicket pair Ben Peel (32) and Andrew Harrison (27) delayed the inevitable with a spirited 41-run partnership before Tom Payne (2-16) returned to clean up the tail.
“We’re about 1.7 points per game from second but only 2.5 points per game above second bottom so it’s still pretty tight,” Arnold added.
“If we continue picking up wins we could get back in the mix – we have Halesowen away next which will be a tough game.”
