Hopkins times run chase to perfection as Leamington overhaul Whitchurch

Having won the toss, Leamington made early inroads into the visitors’ top order as Tom Warner and Faisal Khalid (2-61) took two wickets each to reduce Whitchurch to 58 for four.

Dimelow (30) and Yousaf then set about a recovery, adding 55 for the fifth wicket before a couple more quick wickets left Whitchurch on 160 for eight.

However, Yousaf remained at the crease, dispatching the home attack to all parts during a wonderful innings of 115, which included some mammoth sixes.

He eventually fell to a smart catch on the boundary off Warner (3-47) as the visitors finished on a very competitive 239 for nine off their 50 overs.

After some very disciplined bowling from the visiting attack,the hosts needed the best part of eight an over off the last 20 overs and it needed a partnership between Mark Ashcroft (42) and Lee Hopkins to turn the game in Leamington’s favour.

The pair combined quick singles with lusty blows , adding 95 before Ashcroft fell, caught behind.

Skipper Rob Williams picked up the baton but the star of the show was Hopkins, who hit a magnificent 93 not out (7x4, 3x6) off only 80 balls.

Fittingly, Hopkins hit the winning runs with a huge six to see Leamington home by four wickets with seven balls remaining. Williams finished unbeaten on 31.

Leamington’s second string notched their first win of the season, with a surprisingly comfortable victory at Shrewsbury.

Batting first, Leamington lost a couple of early wickets but prospered through Jon Wigley (39) and Max Webber (42).

Once they departed, the middle and late order kicked on to post an imposing total of 249 for five with Jimbo Williams making a fine, undefeated 65 and receiving support from Jason Butler (27) and Paul Lawrence (26 not out).

On resumption, Spa’s bowlers made immediate inroads. Paul Lawrence went for just ten in his opening seven-over spell and, with the support bowling snapping up wickets on a regular basis, the match petered out as Shrewsbury limped to 148 for nine.

A fine all-round performance from Billy Hallett earned Leamington 3rds a three-wicket win at perpetual Cotswold Hills Premier Division title challengers Exhall & Wixford.

The hosts’ opening pair got the innings off to a brisk start, galloping to 95 by the close of the 15th over.

Jagdeep Kunara took two wickets in two balls to kick-start Leamington’s fightback, with Khunara (3-42) and Billy Hallett (5-28) weighing in with crucial wickets as Exhall were dismissed for 206.

Dan McCarthy (2-33) bowled two steady spells, one at each end of the innings.

Rob Ainscow (18) and James Cowan (47) made a solid start for the visitors and Hallett (32) Manpreet Gill (48)and Tom Mackrill (17)maintained the run rate before the loss of three wickets for six runs put the victory at risk.

However, sensible batting from Khunara and Matt Davison saw Leamington safely home with three wickets and three overs to spare.