James Neale takes a hat trick

Olton won this crucial game in their battle to stay in the Birmingham League at Grange Road today.

Old Wulfs asked Olton to bat and the brothers Marc and Jonathon Webb got Olton off to their best start this season. Jonathon after his massive 182 last week in the 2nd XI looked in fine form and scored rapidly with some particularly fine shots in making 57 off only 41 balls and was first out at 85. Gary Hawkins joined Marc Webb and they put on 74 for the third wicket when Marc was out for a confidence boosting 83 his best score of the season. At 196-3 Olton were in command and steady progress through the overs against the accuarte slow left spin of Virk saw them reach 257-7 at the close of the innings.

Olton made a great start as Simpson caught Cooper off the fourth ball of the Old Wulfs innings bowled by Errol Simms. With Nathan Gavin claiming the wicket of Thompson for 4 with score at 24 Olton were on their way. But then Faisal Virk entered the fray. Batting cautiously initially he then began to open out after Acastor was bowled by Gavin for 18 with the score at 65. A stand of 69 developed between Virk and Kilsworth which took the score to 134 when James Neale bowled Killsworth. The score crept to 150 when all sorts of drama took place.

Skipper Neale keeping himself on bowled the first ball of his fourth over. His quick leg break bowled Marsh. The next ball he had Morris plum leg before and on the third ball bowled Nutting for a hat trick.

Old Wulfs were now 150 for 7. Virk had looked on helpless at the other end. The end came quickly. Hawkins had Tariq brilliantly caught in the deep by Marc Webb, James Neale entinced Virk into another huge shot which Dan Fox held very well on the deep mid wicket boundary and Nathan Gavin reurned to dismiss Remington and Old Wulfs had collapsed to 162 all out, having lost 6 wickets for 12 runs in seven overs.

Olton's win scrambles them out of the bottom four. Five sides are scrapping to avoid two relegation spots over the last two games.

Phil Williams - 02/09/2007