Tipping tips the balance for Amateur
AMATEURS pulled off a sensational victory as their unbeaten run continues.
Travelling to Leicester Ivanhoe, Amateurs batted first but were rocked as James Axon was out first ball.
Fellow opener Jason Tipping and Shoib Dadu then had a steady partnership to take the score to 60 before Dadu was leg before for 33.
Ivanhoe then ripped through the middle order as Amateurs slumped to 100-7 with Tipping trying to hold the innings together. He then shared a stand with Craig Hatcher of 37 and Craig Bresland of 30 before he and last man Mick Butterworth put on 37 for a match winning last wicket partnership.
Tipping’s superb innings finished on an unbeaten 98 just 2 short of his maiden century. Niall Lafferty took 5-28 for the Ivanhoe
James Axon then took two early wickets as the home side slumped to 1-2, but then Richard Newberry and Jai Pandit took the score to 100. But every time Ivanhoe seemed to get on top Amateurs took a wicket.
At 155-5 they looked favourites before a superb catch on the boundary by Ben Smith got rid of the dangerous Newberry.
Skipper Harrison then juggled his bowlers but with Ivanhoe needing just 7 with 2 wickets to fall wily spinner Mick Butterworth took a sharp caught and bowled.
Last man Shortland scrambled a leg bye, Harry Joseph then hit the next ball to the boundary where Ed Proctor took a nerve wracking catch as the Amateurs got home by 3 runs.
Ash Harrison was full of praise for his side. With a number of regulars missing the lads who came in didn’t let him down and he has a selection problem for next week.
Amateur 2nd suffered another defeat as they lost to Anstey and Glenfield. Anoop Jayaraj scored a century as the visitors made use of a good wicket at Ashby Road.
They looked on for a massive score at 156-1, but the Amateur bowlers battled back with four wickets for Paul Ensor and Sam Gill to bowl Anstey out for 244 and maximum bowling points.
Amateur’s poor batting season continued as they struggled again and they were no match for the Anstey bowlers posting just 101.