Words by Paul Smith / stumped4words.com
Despite battling half-centuries from Jamie Harris and Ollie Davidson, Harborne lost a thrilling Birmingham Premier League Division Two promotion battle at champions-elect Wolverhampton by two runs.
Requiring ten runs from the final over then three from Aqab Ahmed’s last delivery the visitors fell agonisingly short when Matt James was trapped lbw.
Harris (78) and Davidson (50) had earlier rescued Harborne from a distinctly unpromising position after Ahmed’s fine opening burst reduced their pursuit of 215 to 60 for five.
Wolverhampton’s total owed much to a useful second-wicket partnership between Tom Fell (62) and Ramanjot Jaswal (56) while off-spinner Swapnil Gugale was the pick of the visiting attack with 4-31.
This result plus wins for Lichfield and Barnards Green leaves Harborne 14 points adrift of the second promotion place – which is currently occupied by the Malvern-based club – with four rounds of action remaining.
“It was very disappointing, right to the end I thought we’d do it,” skipper Tom Arnold said.
“After a tough start with the bat we rebuilt brilliantly through Ollie and Jamie and when we had it down to four an over we were in control.
“But we then lost both of them in quick succession and kept losing wickets after that before Wolverhampton bowled a good last over.
“The pitch turned a bit but it had good carry and we were happy chasing 216 after our spinners and George Land turned it round for us with the ball.”
Arnold struck an early blow by removing the prolific Warrick Fynn after the hosts had opted to take first use of their Danescourt pitch.
But his opening partner Jaswal was then joined by Worcestershire’s Fell in an excellent second wicket stand worth 110.
But Jaswal’s dismissal by Gugale for a 68-ball 56 provided the trigger for Harborne’s Indian ace to grab four quick wickets while the hosts added just 27 runs.
And when Fell became the last of these after striking six boundaries in his 96-ball 62, Wolverhampton had slipped to 140 for five and the visitors scented opportunity.
However, useful knocks from Jack Stanley (23) and in particular Joe Stanley who made an unbeaten 42-ball 37 made sure that the home side passed 200.
Wolverhampton were then soon celebrating the dismissal of Gugale who was trapped in front by Ahmed for 13
And the hosts’ opening bowler promptly added the scalps of Adam Carter and last week’s half-centurion Jimmy Clifford before Kieron Patel removed Tejas Wagle and Karan Bharaj.
At 60 for five Harborne’s backs were firmly pressed against the wall but opener Harris had stood firm and in sixth-wicket partner Oliver Davidson he found a willing ally.
The pair added 101 in 21 overs which meant the visitors required 55 from 11 overs when Harris was bowled by Brad Fallon for an excellent 113-ball 78 containing ten boundaries.
When Davidson and Arnold were reducing this target by 32 runs Harborne were in a strong position until they fell to successive deliveries with the score at 193.
Ahmed’s return to the attack brought 11 runs from the 48th over only for Charlie Home to concede just three from the penultimate set of six balls. This left James and Jasper Davidson needing ten from the final over which ultimately proved just beyond them.
Harborne host struggling Worfield next Saturday and Arnold believes they must now win all four remaining games to clinch promotion.
“We still have to play Lichfield while Wolverhampton and Barnards Green meet in the closing weeks so while things are now out of our hands a good finish to the season keep us in the mix,” he said.
