Must-win for Sentinel in survival fight

With two matches remaining, Sentinel are in the Division Three relegation zone – 17 points behind fifth-bottom Stratford – but the spirits of everyone connected with the Albert Road club were boosted by last weekend’s six-wicket win over Stourbridge.

As he prepares for tomorrow’s home clash against Brewood, currently a place and nine points below Sentinel, Ashlin knows his side just have to build on their morale-boosting victory.

He said: “Just like last Saturday was, it’s a must-win game for us, and we’ve got to go into and play good cricket, just like we did last weekend, stay calm and look to try and put on a good performance.

“It’s given us a much-needed boost and hopefully we can take that into Saturday. Whatever happens with the other teams happens.

“We’ve got to try and win two games of cricket, starting this Saturday. We’ve got to concentrate on what we’re doing, that’s the main thing.”

Sentinel will assess the fitness of all-rounder David Laird ahead of the Brewood game to see if he can return from injury.

Stourbridge batted first last weekend and Andy Harrison took 4-38 as the visitors posted a competitive total of 255-8. But Sentinel chased well to advance to 256-4 with nine balls to spare.

Opener Ben Mathews, the former Shelton player, was in fine touch for 75 and then Jamie Wear, unbeaten on 88 from 77 balls, joined forces with skipper Ashlin (36no) to see the job through during an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 101.

“It was a good performance,” said Ashlin. “We had a long batting line-up and we were pleased with the way we batted, it was a really good run chase.”

Newport are at home to Lichfield.