Words by Paul Smith (Stumped4Words)
A Karan Bharaj half-century provided Harborne with scant consolation as they slipped to a second Birmingham Premier League Division Two defeat of the season by a three-wicket margin at the hands of Lichfield.
The in-form batter stroked ten boundaries and a six in his fine 56 as Harborne recovered from 42 for three thanks to his 74-run partnership with Tom Payne.
However, with opening bowler Riley Ward grabbing five wickets, the home side’s last seven wickets then added only 60 further runs to leave the visitors chasing 176.
When home skipper Tom Arnold and James Hunt promptly shared five wickets with the new ball Lichfield’s response was in tatters at 43 for five.
However, Ward then completed a fine personal display with an excellent 64 while adding 130 in the company of sixth-wicket partner Brinder Phagura (64no) to take the visitors almost to the finish line.
“We were missing a few key players but it was a disappointing result,” Arnold acknowledged.
“Lichfield bowled well and the conditions were difficult early on but we didn’t bat especially well.
“Karan played a good innings but even with the ball nibbling around for their seamers we were below par at 170-odd.
“The pitch improved with some sun on it but we got off to a good start to have them five down early on.
“They batted well after that and with the bowlers we had missing we just couldn’t get another breakthrough.”
Phagura struck an early blow for Lichfield when he dismissed the in-form Jamie Harris before Ward followed up with the wickets of opener Arnold and Harborne star man Swapnil Gugale who was caught behind from his first ball.
Payne (34) then joined forces with Bharaj in a useful third-wicket alliance worth 74 before both batters fell in quick succession.
Thereafter only Tejas Wagle, whose 54-ball 37 contained seven boundaries, made much headway for the hosts whose middle and lower order succumbed to some good Lichfield out-cricket which achieved the unusual feat of holding ten catches.
Ward finished with 5-51 from 15 overs while Phagura claimed 2-50 and Tom Swift grabbed three late scalps at a personal cost of 24 runs. Lichfield keeper James Foxley held on to five of the ten catches taken.
Harborne were bowled out in the 49th over which left the visitors with 61 overs in which to chase 176. However, they were soon on the back foot after Arnold dismissed Tom Stone with the second ball of their response and Hunt saw off Swift an over later.
The home side’s new-ball pairing then claimed a further cluster of three wickets – including the dangerous Rich Taylor-Tibbott (27) – during a five-ball spell in the seventh and eighth overs.
This brought together Phagura and Ward who rebuilt the innings cautiously by adding 50 in the next 16 overs then completing their century stand in another 18.
Harborne used seven bowlers before Gugale’s off-spin eventually ended Ward’s spirited knock for a 97-ball 64 including seven fours and a six. The Indian ace then almost immediately claimed a second wicket but Phagura stood firm to ensure Lichfield clinched the spoils in the 44th over.
Arnold claimed 3-31, Hunt finished with 2-39 and Gugale 2-23 for the home side while Phagura’s unbeaten 104-ball 64 contained 12 boundaries.
Harborne now lie in third place in the table where they are level on points with second-placed Bromsgrove with leaders Wolverhampton 20 points to the good of both.