A BRILLIANT display of batting from Ash Newdick and Brandon Miller steered Studley to victory in their must-win match at Coleshill.

And it was a display that saved their side from dropping out of the Birmingham League.

Skipper Stuart Harris had urged his cricketers for an extra effort in a bid to rescue a dismal season. And they responded in style, romping to a nine-wicket win with nearly 20 overs to spare.

"Everyone performed but Ashley and Brandon were brilliant," Harris explained. "They made it look easy and it was the best I've seen since I've been at the club.

"The preparation was perfect, everyone turned up on time, we left on time and we approached the match the right way with the attitude.

"It has been a disappointing season because we have not been hard enough on ourselves at times.

"On paper and on reputation we are a good side and we should be up there challenging. But we shouldn't look at the league and this ourselves in mid-table. We need to remember that we just avoided relegation - the league table is very flattering towards us."

Batting first, the home side were resrtricted to 189 thanks to some impressive bowling, Marc Lewis (3-61) and Miller (3-50) taking the bulk of the wickets.

In reply, opener Richard Gregory fell for seven but Newdick and Miller stayed put to steer their side to victory.

Miller finished with a solid 62 but Newdick's unbeaten 108 was the star turn.

"That was the first league century that Ashley has scored and he saved it untiil the last match of the season and probably Studley's biggest match for years," Harris added.

"When he bats well there are few better in the league but he has been getting himself out due to a lack of concentration.

"Ashley plays better in the bigger games or against the better bowlers, it seems to suit him more.

"He wants to go back to New Zealand now and try and force his back back in at Wellington Academy.

"Whether they will let him come back to us next year is one thing, whether he has done enough to warrant coming back is another issue.

"He is under no illusion that we are not happy with his performances. His fielding is top drawer and he has bags of potential but his batting has let him down."