Red hot Cookley on track

10:30am Tuesday 13th May 2008

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COOKLEY continued their good start to the season with success in league and cup over the weekend.

The Lea Lane side rose to second in the Worcestershire Crusader League Division Three with a six-wicket win over Hagley on Saturday.

A day later the side booked a regional quarter-final against Colwall in the Village Knockout Cup by seeing off Burghill and Tillington.

Captain Mark Bennett was full of praise for his side and high-lighted the contribution of experienced campaigners Gary Mills, Paul Harris and Andy Parker.

"At the moment somebody is getting the runs and wickets when we need them," said the captain.

"The more experienced players are really doing a good job and the whole team is playing well.

"We rely on our first team and when we lose people to injury or holidays it affects our form, so it's important we start the season well."

In the league Cookley made it two wins in a row despite losing the toss.

Hagley could only manage 141-8 from their 50 overs, mainly thanks to a marathon 25-over spell from Parker, who finished with figures of 4-40.

In reply, the Lea Lane men reached their target for the loss of four wickets in under 30 overs, with Bennett weighing in with 43 not out as Cookley made 143-4.

On Sunday Cookley showed their cup credentials with a comprehsensive win over Heredfordshire side Burghill and Tillington at home.

Batting first, the cup's 1977 winners piled up 263-5 from their 40 overs, with opener Harris smashing 91, Adam Nicholls hitting 56, and Bennett recording 64 not out.

In reply, the visitors never looked like chasing down the total, and three wickets from Nicholls ensured they only managed 174-8 from their allotted overs.

After taking to the field first, the hosts restricted the visitors to 184-9 from their 50 overs.

Ben Quinlan was Cookley's most effective player with 5-44, a haul which included a hat-trick.

In reply, Cookley were indebted to Quinlan's batting skills this time as his 91 set up a grandstand finish, but the loss of late wickets meant the target proved too high and they had to settle for a total of 164-8 and a losing draw.