Free-falling Delph & Dobcross slumped closer to relegation as they suffered yet another defeat on the road away at Broad Oak, their fifth consecutive loss in the league. After being asked to bat first, Delph found it tricky losing both opening batsmen for single figures. Captain Alex Peters (27) put in a determined shift but was unable to push on as he became a victim to spinner John Keeling. The hosts slow bowlers then took firm control as Keeling (3-27) and Dan Taylor (4-29) ruthlessly suffocated their opponents who hobbled on to 93ao in 43 overs. It wasn’t all plain-sailing in the reply as Umer Yaqoob (3-18) helped reduce Oak to 25-4. This became 50-5 as a battle of attrition emerged between the sides but overseas Kyran Dill (34no) and Tom McCreadie (22no) prevented any further subsidence with a bullish partnership that denied the visitors a precious bowling point. They saw out victory on 95-5 after 28 overs to pull themselves further away from trouble. Delph meanwhile now embark on a season-defining four match run where they play three of the teams in an around them at the bottom.
