Quorn aim to take positives to table-topper

HAVING lost last week for the first time since early July, Quorn travelled to Electricity Sports, hoping to return to winning ways.

With seemingly perfect conditions, Quorn were surprised to be given first use of a flat wicket. Tom Errington (12) got the evenings off to a brisk start, but two wickets for Matt Sheppard (4-59) in his second over slowed their progress. Bill Reynolds (14) and Richard Sharp (26), using the pace of the bowling, took the score on to 58, before another double strike from Sheppard reined Quorn back.

The Cooper brothers, Chris (24) and Richard (9) looked to be giving the innings some impetus as the bowlers seemed to tire, but again wickets in consecutive overs looked as if they might wreck Quorn’s chances of a big score. At 99-6, Will Huish strode to the wicket and immediately looked to get after the bowlers.

Picking his deliveries carefully, Huish launched five huge sixes and four fours in a 41 ball 53, to take the score on to 170 before he was bowled by Youran Lamontaine (2-26) in the 40th over. Once Huish departed, Adam Lee took responsibility to ensure Quorn used all their overs. Lee (19*) in partnership with Jack Child (9*) thwarted their opponents efforts to gain maximum bowling points, Lee even planting the returning Sheppard way over the mid-wicket boundary for six in the final over as Quorn finished on 198-9.

With a batting lineup which has struggled for much of the season, Quorn will be particularly pleased that the last four wickets yielded 24, 24, 27 and an unbroken 28 partnership.

With the wicket still playing very well, Tom Bottrill (32) and Ygnesh Quessou (19) took time to play themselves in, but with Quorn’s bowlers bowling a disciplined line and length, Electricity Sports were never able to get the run rate above 3 1/2 runs per over.

Jon Reynolds, after his match winning performance on this ground last Sunday, for the Leicestershire over 50s, made life difficult for the Electricity Sports batsmen. Reynolds’ 4-34 accounted for both openers and number three Farhan Parker (25) who was dismissed with an outstanding one-handed caught and bowled. With the score 73-3 after 25 overs, successive batsmen were intimidated by the ever increasing asking rate, allowing Andy Kenneth to take 4-13 as the innings floundered.

Quorn’s ground fielding and catching was right out of the top drawer as they frustrated Electricity Sports’ attempts to score. Eventually the innings was wrapped up, in the 42nd over for 138.

Next week, Quorn will hope to take all the positives from this performance as they travel to table topping Shree Sanatan.