LICHFIELD’S miserable season continued with a 63-run defeat against Walsall.
Skipper Adam Braddock won the toss and opted to send the visitors into bat in the hope his bowlers could secure some early joy.
But wickets were few and far between in the opening stages as Walsall put on 55 before Hashim Iqbal was trapped lbw by Zayn Hussain on 27.
Fellow opener Alex Hammond put on 33 before he was bowled by Nick Richards to leave Walsall on 67-2.
But the impressive William Mashinge came to the crease at number four and struck an unbeaten 68 as the visitors reached 219-8 in their 50 overs.
Isaac Rowley was the pick of the city bowlers as he finished with figures of 3-50.
Lichfield were desperate to find some batting form after flattering to deceive in recent outings, but their woes came to the fore early on as Will Davies went after scoring just one – and then fellow opener Asif Rajah departed to leave the score at 9-2.
Captain Braddock was next to depart after being caught by Daniel Betty off the bowling of Mohammed Ismael Murtaza after scoring just four.
Daniel Caddick offered a rare bright spark with the bat as he made 56 from 87 balls before being caught by Hasim Iqbal after a delivery from Anaesh Patel to leave Lichfield on 150-9.
Any hopes of late resistance were dashed when Hussain became the final wicket to fall as the hosts ended their innings on 156 to remain bottom of the South Staffordshire Cricket League Premier Division.
