Sheldon Marlborough CC Blog

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After the euphoria of winning three on the bounce, including a fantastic win at Camp Hill, being rained off against Pickwick was quite annoying, and that loss of momentum combined with a poor batting day at Warwick brought us back down to earth with a bump. However, a bank holiday demolition of Marston Green restored confidence for last Saturday’s visit to league leaders Handsworth, where we took 10 points home but were left wondering what might have been, after a couple of fielding errors and some unlucky umpiring put us on the back foot.

With two weeks to go there is still plenty to play for, not least to avoid being in the bottom three on September 15th. Potentially only two will go down, but that depends on Olton & West Warwicks securing Birmingham League survival. Streetly and Ansley (Saturday’s opposition) both won on Saturday and can still survive, whilst Marston Green are only in the relegation fight due to penalty points. Pickwick have also slipped in recent weeks and Camp Hill are not safe yet - so there are six teams with survival to play for.

Of the top six, all mathematically safe barring penalties, Handsworth must be odds-on to get promoted, especially if they come out on top against 4th-placed Stockton on Saturday - but then if Stockton win they may well finish in the top two. Warwick (2nd) and Southam (3rd) also play on Saturday with the winner of that fixture likely to be playing Premier Division cricket next season.

Poor weather has been a big factor in keeping the division wide open this year, but also it would seem sides have been very evenly matched. Streetly have been dead last for most of the season yet scored 300+ at Camp Hill on Saturday. We got the better of Southam twice but are 46 points behind them (we have had 3 more abandoned than them). Ansley beat Handsworth twice yet are second-last. It’s been one of those seasons. Two big games to go everybody.

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