Winning draw keeps survival hopes alive for Hinckley Town

HINCKLEY Town’s fight for survival continues after securing a winning draw against Lutterworth at the weekend.

Hinckley finished on 232 for nine after 50 overs, but Lutterworth held on for the draw with 145-9.

The result leaves Hinckley second-to-bottom and 24 points from safety with four games to go.

On Saturday, away side Lutterworth won the toss and chose to field first.

Hinckley lost their first wicket in the fifth over when Pinto Patel was caught for 10 by Chay Kalym off George Terry’s bowling.

The home side progressed to 96 in the 21st over but lot a further three wickets of Ben Coddington, Aleem Mahmood and captain Craig Crowe.

A stand of 53 between Will Hunt and Ben Silver took Hinckley onto 149, before Hunt was bowled by Michael Turns for 54.

Silver stayed at the wicket until the 49th over when he was caught and bowled by Alex Hill for 59 to leave Hinckley on 221-8.

In came Mo Pardesi who remained 28 not out to take Hinckley to 232-9 after their 50 overs.

In reply Lutterworth started well, reaching 52 before Turns was caught by Crowe off the bowling of Aleem Mahood for 17.

In-form Mahood went on to take Lutterworth’s next four wickets to reduce them to 74 for five in the 24th over.

The shaken away side slipped to 108 for eight in the 38th over, with the only resistance coming from Kalym who was bowled by Suki Singh for 20.

With just 12 overs to go, it looked like Hinckley might scoop a much-needed win.

However George Terry and Darren Cader managed to stay together until the final over when terry was bowled out for 35.

Cader played the final two balls defensively, and earned Lutterworth a losing draw on 145-9.

Man of the match Mahood took five wickets for 25 runs for Hinckley.

Next week they visit Syston Town.