Powerplay provides platform for Stenning’s match-winning innings

The former skipper stroked 14 boundaries in his entertaining 108-ball knock as Wardens posted an above-par 241 for eight. Despite skipper Greg Wright’s accomplished 56, the visitors were then dismissed in 43.5 overs for 171. Wardens openers Keith Bell (26) and Nick Seager (33) posted 74 in good time during the powerplay as Himley’s seamers struggled for control. Stenning then shared 40-plus stands with Seager, Sitanshu Kotak (15) and skipper Martin Donald (16) to see the hosts to maximum batting points. Ryan Brown claimed three for 31 and veteran seamer Stuart Wedge one for 23 for Himley, whose attack was hindered by the loss of Mike Jones to injury. Left-handed opener Wright struck a six and three boundaries in his 84-ball 56 but a wicket apiece for Wardens’ three-strong seam attack soon reduced the visitors’ reply to 84 for four. Wedge (38) then joined his captain to add 41 useful fifth-wicket runs before the hosts’ spinners wrested the initiative away from them. Left-armers Matt Hancock (2-10) and Kotak (3-43) worked their way through the middle-order, while off-spinner Anthony Wilkinson’s tidy spell ensured Himley were never able to launch a counter-attack that threatened the hosts’ grip on the match. Mark Pidgeon and Robin de Regt combined to outstanding effect as Wardens 2nds maintained their unbeaten start to the season with an exciting 11-run Birmingham League Division One win over their Shifnal hosts. A polished 85 continued De Regt’s fine spring campaign but it was fellow leftie Pidgeon, with the superb figures of five for 29, who played the key role in ensuring the hosts failed to reach their 188-run target. A slightly slow Shifnal pitch inhibited strokeplay, so only the in-form de Regt and Udit Talati made any significant inroads with the bat. The pair added 65 for the fifth Wardens wicket, of which all-rounder Talati, who struck six fours and two sixes in his run-a-ball 42, contributed the lion’s share. De Regt’s measured contribution spanned 126 balls and included ten immaculately timed boundaries before he fell to the deserving Alex Riley who claimed two for 28 from nine tidy overs. Tom Newnes led the way for Shifnal with three for 40, while there was a wicket apiece for the remaining four bowlers. Veteran Nick Whiting (1-15) and Wardens’ newcomer Rajan Bhatti (1-29) have already developed into a fine new-ball combination and both once again delivered probing spells. However, Shifnal opener Shaun Lorimer (48) built a useful third-wicket stand with Will Clarke, whose 73-ball 53 took the response to a threatening 101 for two before Pidgeon flew to Wardens’ rescue. His superb return catch removed Clarke and the lower-order folded meekly, with the last seven wickets falling for the addition of only 39 runs.