Cropston top the Division One table
ON SATURDAY, Cropston travelled to Sileby and welcomed the return of their captain Steven Punchard who duly lost the toss and Cropston were invited to bat by Sileby captain Mo Khan.
With the wicket offering movement and swing, Sileby’s opening bowler A Bates took advantage of the conditions and took the first three wickets reducing Cropston to 22 for the loss of 3 wickets.
A partnership of 52 took place between Punchard and Sam Hickinbottom top scorer from last week, Punchard was then trapped LBW by Neil Pullen for 22, who also bowled Ian Allen for 5 and Alex Thompson for no score. Cropston were reduced to 91 for 7 and Hickinbottom still not out was in danger of running out of partners.
Coming in at number 9 Alfie Loakes seized the intiative and took the attack to the Sileby bowlers together with Hickinbottom they put on 76 runs with Loakes scoring 46 in 54 balls, including a 6 and 8 fours. Batting with the tail Hickinbottom took the score to 213 in 41 overs when the last wicket fell, Hickinbottom remaining unbeaten on 65 not out.
In reply Sileby lost the early wicket of C Simon caught at the wicket by Max Lewin from the bowling of Loakes for 4. Sileby progressed to 69 through the steady batting of Chris Bulmer and Micky Ruddle. On 48 Ruddle was caught by Loakes from the bowling of Daniel Hickinbottom who was bowling his flighted spin slowing the run rate.
Coming on as fourth bowler Sam Hickinbottom batting hero of the first innings changed the game, he clean bowled Chris Bulmer for 37. Bowling in tandem with brother Dan, Sam ripped through the rest of the Sileby batting order taking 7 wickets for 38 runs in 10 overs, six of which were clean bowled . Sileby were dismissed for 128 in the 29th over of their innings.
An outstanding day for all rounder Sam Hickinbottom with both bat and ball, well supported by the rest of the team.