Tight game goes against Amateur

AMATEURS lost their second game in a row in a tight game at Countesthorpe. On a good batting wicket the hosts started well and were 149-2 with Simon Coombs 54 and Will Buckley 48 scoring well but they lost wickets as they tried to force the pace and finished with a competitive 222-8. Some sloppy bowling gave too many extras with Mick Butterworth taking three wickets and James Axon two.

Amateur got off to a good start with Jason Tipping 22 and James Axon 20, but both were out on 42. Shoib Dadu with 41 and Ollie Winder then scored a century partnership to put the Amateurs as favourites. But two wickets in two balls got Countesthorpe back in the game.

Winder scored a seasons best 65, Stuart Garry then hit 23, Skipper Ash Harrison went to a superb catch on the boundary for 21 as Matt Toon took four wickets. As the tension mounted, last pair Mick Butterworth and Craig Hatcher scrambled 12 runs off seven balls. Needing three off the last, Hatcher skied a catch and was well caught with the Amateurs just two runs short, in a fine game of local cricket,

Amateur 2nd had an even closer finish at Ashby Rd as they tied their game against local rivals Market Bosworth. Haj Gill bowled superbly to take 5-35 with 2 wickets each for Matt Smith and Paul Ensor to restrict the visitors to 200-0. Amateur looked in control at 180-5, Ken Burke with 51,Neil Smith 43, and Garry Roach 36 the mainstay of the innings. A clatter of wickets saw the Amateurs needing just one off the last ball but skipper Matt Smith was run out going for the winning run to share the spoils

There was another local derby as Amateur 3rd lost out to Higham in another close finish. Higham were all out for 184 with Vince Neave scoring an unbeaten 72 and Kev Freeman 27, Sam Gill taking 4-20 and Cliff Pardoe 3-32 pick of the Amateur bowlers.

Higham bowled tight to restrict the Amateur to 169-5 with Winston Thompson hitting an unbeaten 50 and Cliff Pardoe after being hit and rushed to hospital, returned to hit a brave 34 not out