Friday, July 9th, 2021

BRAGG’S SIX-HITTING EXPLOITS HELP UNDER-18S TO VICTORY

An explosive knock from Ed Bragg, plus a fine spell of bowling by Ben Clarke, helped Worcestershire CCC Under-18s defeat their Shropshire counterparts by 91 runs in a 50 over match at Bridgnorth CC.

Bragg smashed 83 off 70 balls, with seven sixes, to propel Worcestershire to 267-6, and then Clarke worked his way through the Shropshire middle border on his way to figures of 10-2-23-3 as they were restricted to 176-7.

Worcestershire were put into bat, and Oliver Cox (30) and Myles Holland (35) added 75 for the second wicket.

Bragg joined forces with Josh Dickenson at 103-4 and the pair put on 104 before the latter was run out one short of his half-century.

Bragg went on to add a further 55 with Oliver Walker (13 not out) before he was caught and bowled by Luke Thornton.

Shropshire’s reply centred an unbeaten 109 off 146 balls from Matthew Lamb, who batted throughout their innings of 176-7.

But no one else came to terms with the Worcestershire attack.

Oliver Walker (5-0-21-2) made two early breakthroughs, and then Clarke settled into a good spell which brought him three of the following four wickets.

Rehaan Edavalath (1-38 from eight overs) and Ismail Mohammed (1-23 from seven overs) were the other wicket-takers.