Kitch cracks maiden ton as Heathcoat rediscover winning formula | 'It was great to see our batting finally fire – Liam Kitch batted beautifully and looked at complete ease' – Peter Randerson (pictured)

Pete Randerson – the Heathcoat captain made 40 against Plymouth

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

HEATHCOAT rediscovered their winning formula after two successive defeats when they overcame visiting Plymouth by 98 runs.

Heathcoat hurtled to 351 for nine in their 50 overs with opener Liam Kitch cracking 121 off 102 balls. He hit 20 fours and two sixes.

Getting Kitch out at 225 for four did little to slow Heathcoat as Peter Randerson (40), James Onley-Gregson (32) and Sammy Broomhead (67) carried on hitting.

Onley-Gregson and Broomhead put on 80 for the sixth wicket to help Heathcoat reach 351 for nine in 50 overs.

Plymouth’s bowlers consistently went for between five and six an over, although Teddy Haffenden, Dave Burke and Peter Lojszczyk did have the compensation of a couple of wickets each.

Plymouth’s reply was constructed around a long knock from South African Jerome Bossr, who found himself in five balls into the Plymouth reply after opener Haffenden was bowled by Malcolm Cloete (3-51).

The South African was finally eighth out with the score on 252 having hit 155 from 146 balls having hit 20 fours and three sixes. Along the way there was a stand of 90 with Tom Hughes (26).

Bossr was dismissed in the 47th over by Tom Hatton (4-69) having taken 14 run from him in the previous four balls.

Plymouth had reached 253 for nine when their time ran out.

Winning skipper Randerson predicted before the game it would be difficult to stay on course for a third successive Premier title if they lost to Plymouth. His relief was obvious in his post-match summing up

“It was great to see our batting finally fire this year,” said Randerson.

“Liam Kitch batted beautifully and looked at complete ease and Sammy Broomhead and James Gregson made light work of getting us past 300 

“We bowled well and made if difficult for Plymouth to score. Bossr batted brilliantly and had he not got 155 then we may have bowled Plymouth out.

“Having lost the toss it was great to play such a commanding game of cricket.”

Richard Goldsby-West, the Plymouth captain, felt a 98-run defeat was not an accurate representation of the game.

“Yes we were out batted by Heathcoat on by what looks like the best track they have produced this season,” said Goldsby-West.

“We beat the outside edge a number of times again, but with no reward, which gave Heathcoat a great start. 

“We gave away too many extras (47) again. Cut them out, and take our chances, and the game could have gone the other way.”