Amateur share spoils in rare draw
HINCKLEY Amateur had another exciting top of the table clash when they tied with Countesthorpe.
Amateur started well in reducing the home side to 45-5, with opening bowlers Sam Smart’s three wickets and Ash Harrison’s two doing the damage.
The home side then rallied with Chris Henry (44), Joe Thorpe (39), and the three remaining tail end batsmen took the total to 188 as they were bowled out in the last over.
Jamie Harris-Ensor claimed three wickets and skipper Alan York earned two, supported by some crucial catches including an incredible effort on the boundary from Craig Bresland.
Amateurs started their innings cautiously against some tight bowling, openers Jason Tipping and Jamie Harris-Ensor went in quick succession, but with big-hitting Ed Proctor with 70 off just 39 balls and Shoib Dadu with 35, Amateur seemed well in command.
After Alan York was out for 28 they just needed 25 with five wickets left, but a couple of run outs and rash shots left last pair James Axon and Ash Harrison with 10 required for the victory. Axon hit a four and some scrambled singles took the scores level.
Countesthorpe skipper Chris Hendry came on to bowl the penultimate over and bowled Axon for a rare result of a tie, both teams being bowled out for 188 and a share of the points.
Amateur 2nd XI took on Narborough and Littlethorpe 2nd XI at Ashby Road and the visitors scored an impressive 267-6 off their 45 overs, with an injury hit attack.
Steve Proctor with figures of 3-53 and Nigel Hind’s 2-34 being the pick of the bowlers.
Amateurs were never really in the hunt with Ben Smith and Sam Gill both hitting 30 and Gary Roach continuing his impressive season with the bat with an unbeaten 32 as they saw out out the draw and reached 145-5.
Skipper Dan Hall led from the front scoring 52 in Amateur 3rd XI total of 151-7 against Barrow Town, Tom Flannery and Arun Kumar with two each had the visitors in some trouble but they couldn’t find a breakthrough to the tailenders and went down by three wickets.