Relegation looming for Earl Shilton after potential points are squandered
EARL Shilton squandered a promising position against Leicester Ivanhoe at the weekend to continue their winless season.
The likely relegation-bound side needed just nine runs in five wickets to seal victory, but some “inexplicable batting” saw them throw away the opportunity.
Earl Shilton finished on 210 all out, while Ivanhoe scored 216-9 after their 50 overs.
The result leaves Earl Shilton bottom of the table and 117 points from safety with four games to go.
On Saturday, Earl Shilton won the toss and chose to field first.
Ivanhoe opened with Sam Evans and Evan Kurtz against the bowling of Tom Verow and Phil Crouch.
Evans quickly went with the score at 12, caught by Kyle Chamberlain off Crouch, and Kurtz soon followed for six after being run out by Verow.
Aneesh Kapil, who is a Surrey professional, had come in at number three and immediately showed his class.
He and Steve Punchard took the score to 79 before Punchard was caught out by Liam Phillips off Sharjeel Butt for 20.
James Kirkham quickly followed for a duck, as did Harry Swindells for three and Jake Beaumont for seven, with one further wicket claimed by Sharjeel and two for Josh Stock.
Kapil and Josh Blunt took the score onto 148 before Kapil was caught by Pavan Singh on the boundary off Tom Verow for a fine 86.
Jack Gilford was quickly run out by Crouch, but Blunt and Lee Hunt took the score to 199 before Blunt was LBW to Crouch for 31.
Imran Khan and Lee Hunt finished not out with two and 37 runs respectively to close the innings on 216 for nine.
It was a good bowling performance from Earl Shilton and a score within reach with sensible batting.
In reply Earl Shilton opened with Kyle Chamberlain, who was still carrying an injury, and Pavan Singh.
The pair took the score to 51 when Pavan was out, bowled by Lee Hunt for five.
Hass Ali quickly followed for five caught by Sam Evans off Hunt, but Sharjeel Butt was going well, although he lost skipper Josh Payne LBW to Evans for 13.
This brought in Liam Phillips with the score at 126 in the 29th over.
Butt and Phillips batted well to take the score onto 207, before Butt was caught by James Kirkham for 58 and Shah quickly followed for two with the score at 208.
Earl Shilton needed just nine runs in seven overs with five wickets remaining to seal victory.
But Phillips was caught by Evans off Kapil for 39 with the score still on 208 and the remaining batsmen only scored two extra runs to leave Earl Shilton on 210 all out.
The home side lost five wickets for three runs in three overs to squander their opportunity.
Next week they play secondplaced Barkby United.