Warwick cricketers win first ever Premier Division match

Warwick Men’s Cricket produced a superb performance to clinch victory over Northumbria in the BUCS Premier Division – their first ever win in the top league.

In a rain-affected encounter, Northumbria batted first and reached 184-8 off a reduced 34 overs.

However, some flamboyant batting from opener Ben Marjot and an unbeaten knock of 57 from Siddarth steered Warwick to victory, ahead of next weekend’s clash with Newcastle.

An energy-sapping five-hour trip, along with constant rain interruptions, failed to affect Warwick’s concentration after captain Simon Knott put the home side into bat.

And hostile bowling from Mark Phillips and Dom Gill helped to reduce the home side to 85-4 before the first rain break.

Northumbria managed to reach a final score of 184-8 after some ferocious late hitting, but the game always remained within Warwick’s reach.

It originally looked as though Warwick would fail in their pursuit of an adjusted 123 from 20 overs, the dismissal of opener Varun Anand triggering a mini-collapse that saw them precariously placed on 26-3.

However, despite the obvious agitation of captain Knott, Siddarth took the game away from Northumbria with an outrageous burst of extra-cover hitting, amassing a rapid half-century.

And Siddarth’s knock was enough to seal victory for Warwick, who celebrated their maiden triumph in the top division with understandable delight.

It is no mean feat, particularly considering the fact that the men’s cricket team are one of only two sporting sides across the university to play in the BUCS Premier Division.

And Warwick will be looking to repeat their victory over north-east opponents, as they host a Newcastle XI next week.