Kumar strikes late to give Rothley dramatic victory
ROTHLEY Park beat Loughborough Town on Saturday thanks to three late wickets from Nitesh Kumar.
Kumar and Kazim put on a partnership of 42 of the first 11 overs, before Kazim was caught in the slips by Kenny of the bowling of Rishton for 14 and Kumar followed shortly after LBW to Saddington for 41.
Wickets fell regularly despite the Rothley batsmen finding the boundary regularly. Richard Williams made 40 before being dismissed by Nil Patel and it was only when player coach Phil DeFreitas came to the crease and found the boundary regularly, clearing the ropes twice on his way to 48 off 36 balls the Rothley score seemed to jump, reaching 219 all out of 49 overs, Nil Patel finishing with 4-46 and Saddington 3-56.
In reply, Loughborough Town lost early wickets and were soon reeling at 56-5 and then 68-6 after just 12 overs.
Bell and Saddington built some form of resistance before Bell was dismissed for 17, LBW to Khan.
At 96-7 off just 19 overs, youngster Bowley joined Saddington at the crease and the two of them batted superbly looking in no trouble. They batted together all the way to the 50th over, putting on 77 before Bowley fell LBW to Kumar.
A draw looked on the cards but Rothley’s Nitesh Kumar - he took two wickets in two balls in the final over, the last on the penultimate ball of the match to secure a 41 run win for the jubilant home side, leaving Kyle Saddington stranded unbeaten on 62 for Loughborough.