Newtown Linford settle for losing draw
NEWTOWN Linford travelled to Earl Shilton and had to settle for a losing draw after falling nine runs short in a low scoring game in Division 1.
The home side elected to bat first on a very dry wicket and were restricted to 185-7 in their 45 overs.
Wickets were shared around but left arm spinner Branden Brodell was the pick of the bowling taking 3-17 from his 12 overs as runs were hard to come by from the slower bowlers.
Newtown started well and were well placed at 106-2 at the halfway point with Phil Lowe making 27 and skipper Craig Chapman (39) and Brodell (37) going well but a mini collapse against the Earl Shilton spinners derailed the innings.
Only David Woods (17) and Matt Bennett (32no) got into double figures as Newtown closed on 176-9.
At Main Street, Newtown Linford 2nd X1 welcomed unbeaten Sileby Town 3’s for their Division 4 Central fixture.
Sileby won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first on a dry wicket.
Newton’s bowlers responded to the challenge and backed up by some excellent fielding and catching restricted them to a well below par score of 184-9 with only Glennon (31) and Burnip (48) looking comfortable batting.
Nineteen-year-old Ben Tansley was the pick of the bowlers taking 5-49 from his 11 overs and he was well supported by Dan Bowley (1-38), Nick Platt (2-44) and Tom Rowe (1-27).
In reply Newtown got off to a steady start adding 59 for the first wicket and when Steve Bailey joined Sam Hopkins they added a further 85 runs before Hopkins was bowled for a fine 55.
The target was reached with 10 overs to spare thanks to a fine innings from Bailey on his return to playing after injury, he finished on 68no and Tom Rowe 19no to give the home team an emphatic eight wicket win.
Newtown Linford 3rd X1 returned to winning ways away at Newbold Verdon.
Batting first they were well placed at 100-2 thanks to 56 from Andy Oldham and 20 from Paddy Hopkins but a collapse saw them bowled out for just 155.
However, Newbold were skittled for just 70 with Tom Prior taking 5-12 and Jamie Wood 425 as Newtown returned to the top of Division 9 west.