Survival blow for Hammerwich

By division one

HAMMERWICH 1XI (176) lost to PENKRIDGE (178-2) by eight wickets

HAMMERWICH'S survival hopes suffered a blow with this defeat to title challengers Penkridge on Saturday.

The Hammers remain second bottom of the Staffs One table, although 10th-placed Swindon are well within reach.

Having been put in to bat, most Hammerwich batsmen made starts, but failed to take advantage of them.

Josh Allen (14), Mark Humphries (12), Zak Shingler (18), skipper Brian Fisher (21) and Rob Swanwick (11) all got in, but soon got out.

Matt Axton hit 64, but even his efforts could only propel Hammerwich to 176-6.

In reply, Axton (1-29) also struck with the ball, removing Alex Watson for 44, but contributions from Waseem Khan (54) – caught by Dean Pemberton off Fisher – Rana Hassan (52no) and Chad Clarke (23no) saw Penkridge home.