Friendly rivalry resumes
Cricketers delighted to be playing again after almost a year
LOCAL cricket rivals Hinckley Amateurs and Barwell fought out a close pre-season friendly at Ashby Road, with sports restrictions easing, writes Phil York.
Both teams were glad of some muchneeded action before the truncated season officially starts on August 1.
Put in to bat, Amateur openers Jason Tipping and James Axon showed no early season rustiness, Tipping being dismissed by Nick Hines for 46 and Axon top scoring with 71 before being superbly caught and bowled by Ben Betteridge.
After they put on 113 for the first wicket, Anoop Jayaraj was caught behind for 16, Amateur big hitters Ed Proctor and
Alan York perished going for quick runs as the innings lost some momentum.
It took a last-wicket stand between Mick Butterworth and Harj Gill to scramble the score to 218 as they were dismissed in the last over of their 40.
Barwell got off to a poor start, with Tommy Wright being dismissed by Amateur skipper Jamie Harris-Ensor, but a superb 171 stand between George Baker with 64 and Clint Baker, 84, looked to have put the visitors in the driving seat. They played it well, keeping up with the scoring rate without giving many chances, but with both perishing within nine runs of each other, the Amateur spinners bowled tight lines and although Barwell skipper Jack Smith hit an unbeaten 20, Amateurs got home by nine runs. It was a cracking match which went to the last over, as both teams were glad to get out in the field and enjoy their first game of Cricket since last September.
Government guidance for sports events is that they should be arranged such that minimal people take part, so that social distancing is maintained.
Event areas should be designed to maximise the available space for each player. Organisers are also advised to ensure that pre-match briefings take place in advance of the game, with methods of communication in place so players can be told of any last-minute changes.
It was a cracking match which went to the last over, as both teams were glad to get out in the field