A CONVINCING bowling performance steered Stratford to an emphatic victory at Whitchurch to strengthen their promotion hopes in Birmingham League Division Three.
Opening bowler Tom Grundy led the way with a 3-21 off a miserly 17 overs, while fellow seamer Mike Brown took 3-33.
Spinner James Urquhart finished with 4-50 off his 13 overs as Whitchurch were dismissed for 132, before Stratford reached their target in the 32nd over with four wickets in hand.
Stratford remain second in the table, but closed the gap to leaders C&R Hawks to nine points.
Stratford’s bowling attack ripped through the Whitchurch batting, with only Maisam Hasnain Jaffri withstanding he onslaught.
He carried his bat to score 77 off 128 balls, while Yaqoob Yousuf was the only other batsman to reach double figures before becoming Urquhart’s fourth victim.
In reply, Stratford began steadily to reach 22 without loss but it quickly became 33-3 and then 43-4 and 56-5 as wickets tumbled.
Rob West (29) guided the score to 103 before he fell but Ben Pigott steered the visitors home with an unbeaten 39.
Stratford make the short trip to Astwood Bank on Saturday.
