Quorn squander opportunity to claim their first victory

QUORN’S stuttering start to the season continued on the Saturday, when they squandered a goldplated opportunity of victory at the Young Muslims Association.

On winning the toss, Quorn vice captain, Richard Cooper, elected to chase. Opening bowlers Steve Maddocks and Harish Kumar, both bowled on a good length, giving the YMA batsmen little to hit. Maddocks took the early wicket of Mohsin and when he took two wickets in the 11th over, YMA had slumped to 41-3. Kumar continued to give the YMA batsmen nothing to hit, as his 11 overs went for just 18 runs.

Nazim looked to play some expansive shots at the other end and was fortuitous when his edges found gaps in the slip cordon. Jon Reynolds (1-36), had his first delivery parried over the mid-wicket boundary for six, but got his revenge when he snared Nazim three balls later for 36. Maddocks continued to bowl well, finishing with 4-51 as the YMA reached 88-6 after 25 overs. At this point Quorn were confident of restricting their opponents, But Raheel (23) and Farhaan put on 57 for the seventh wicket. Farhaan swung mightily at anything in his arc hitting six sixes en route to his 47. The fireworks were ended by a spectacular leaping catch by Will Huish, giving Adam Lee the first of his three wickets in ten deliveries to finish the innings for 158.

Richard Sharp (12) and especially Tom Errington looked in fine form, putting on 38 for the opening wicket. However, Errington fell LBW to Iqbal (1-31) for 28 as Quorn fell to 54-3. Chris Cooper and Will Huish took the score to 91 before Cooper fell, LBW to Farhaan for 18. Huish however looked to have the chase under control, until a moment of controversy proved the turning point.

Hitting what appeared to be a bump ball to cover, a lone appeal prompted the umpire to raise his finger. Despite the batsman’s look of incredulity, none of the fielding side were prepared to call him back, as he was dismissed for 23. At that point, the lower half of the Quorn order needed just 62 runs, which was still eminently gettable. However, the belief seem to have drained from the Quorn batsmen and although Kumar added a watchful 18, the innings subsided meekly to just 128 all out. Following his heroics with the bat, Farhaan lead the bowling taking 5-24.

Next week Quorn face local rivals Mountsorrel Castle who sit only two places and 10 points above them at the foot of the table.