LICHFIELD Cricket Club got their campaign off to a winning start with a 51-run triumph at home against Bloxwich.
The hosts were sent into bat after losing the toss and saw openers Adam Braddock and Harry Hurley-Salmons set a solid foundation as they scored 38 and 57 respectively.
Number three Ihsaan Nadeem added 66 and Rory Prentice struck a fine 50 not out as Lichfield wrapped up their 50 overs with 281-4.
Bloxwich were set a revised target of 265 from 47 overs in response and made a bright start as they reached 77 before opener Frankie Eden was caught by Elliot Dowen off Liam Orgill’s bowling.
Replacement Harry Scott was skittled by Turley-Salmons after scoring just four.
The wickets kept coming – and when opener Sheraz Khan was removed after scoring 86, the Bloxwich scoreboard looked in trouble at 135-5.
Visiting skipper Matthew Boden struck 42 off 54 balls before being caught by James Suttle off Nadeem’s bowling to halt any hopes of a dramatic fightback, with the innings ended on 213-9.
Nadeem was the pick of the Lichfield bowlers, finishing with figures of 4-30.
