Town take 25 points from tie with Earl Shilton

HINCKLEY Town hosted close rivals Earl Shilton on Saturday in the First Division of the Leicestershire and Rutland Cricket League.

On a bitterly cold day Hinckley won the toss and put the visitors into bat. They got off to a reasonable start with openers Hasan Ali and Pavan Singh putting on 38 for the first wicket.

At which point Singh was lbw to Hinckley’s Suki Singh for 12.

Singh then took the wicket of Sharjeel Butt for six leaving Earl Shilton 44-2 after 10 overs.

Earl Shilton were restricted by the fact that opener Ali was carrying a back injury and had to have a runner but he batted very well and was sixth wicket when he was bowled by Janak Valand for 57 with the score on 118-6.

A seventh wicket stand of 33 between James Lester and Phil Crouch helped matters for Earl Shilton.

Crouch was lbw to Valand leaving them 151-7. They were all out in the 45th over for 161, Hinckley spinner Valand taking six wickets for 26 runs.

Hinckley got of to a flying start with openers Don Bagwatti and Craig Crowe scoring 48 after six overs.

Bagwatti was bowled by Tom Verow for 27 and with his next ball Verow had Pinto Patel lbw for a duck.

This brought in debutant Rikish Panthal. He and Crowe took the score onto 66 when Verow struck again bowling Crowe for 27, leaving Hinckley on 66-3.

Hinckley lost the wicket of Valand with the score on 92.

But captain Rag Sen and Panthal took Hinckley near to the finishing line with a fifth wicket stand of 48, when Sen lost is wicket with the score on 140-5.

Avish Patel joined Panthal and saw Hinckley home in the 33rd over with five wickets to spare. New boy Panthal finished on an impressive 48 not out.

Hinckley took 25 points from this encounter which moves them up to fifth place in the table. Next week they visit top of the table Newtown Linford.