A HALF-CENTURY from teenage Rhodri Jones helped lift Burghill, Tillington and Weobley out of the Worcestershire County League Division One relegation zone following an away win at Halesowen seconds.

Burghill’s Cape Town bowler Reece Thomas used the swing of his bowling to beat the bat on at least a dozen occasions in his first 11 over spell.  

However, the batsmen were just not good enough to get an edge, although opener Luke Beasley did, and was back in the pavilion caught behind for 1.

Wickets fell at regular intervals and at 85-6, it looked ominous for Halesowen.

But a dogged 89 run seventh wicket partnership between Thomas Williams (60) and Charlie Greening (38), gave the score some respectability.

After Greening was caught in the deep by Jack Stockdale off Thomas, the innings petered out and Halesowen finished on 189-9 off their 50 overs.

Reece Thomas, who bowled his full quota of 15 overs, finished with 3-56, Ranjit William 3-43 off 13, and Mohammed Hassan 1-38 off 15 unchanged overs which stifled the scoring. 

Burghill’s batting has been fragile this season, with only 17 year-old AJ Morris scoring a half century.  So there was some doubt if they could chase down 189.

However, they turned to 17-year-old Jones who playing his first game of the season, delivered a masterclass of dispatching the bad balls.

With exquisite drives and cuts, and defending the good ones Jones raced to 61 off 56 balls, with 12 sublime fours before he was caught.  

Skipper Barney Morgan showed glimpses of his huge array of shots, but fell for 46 off 41 balls, with 7 fours and a six.

Reece Thomas (28no) and Jack Stockdale (18no) saw Burghill over the line for a six-wicket victory.

The win lifts Burghill out of the relegation zone, to eighth, one place below Bewdley, who they visit next Saturday.