Cropston triumph in final over drama

CROPSTON entertained Loughborough Carillion on Saturday at The Keith Jackson Memorial Ground, captain Steven Punchard lost the toss and Cropston were invited to field.

Carillion openers Sam Clarke and Mayur Keshwala made a steady start against the Cropston seam attack of Ian Allen and Alfie Loakes reaching 57 without loss.

The introduction of Daniel Hickinbottom from the Waterfield Road end bowling his spin brought an early reward trapping Clarke LBW for 24.

A double bowling change with brother Sam coming on at the field end also paid dividends having Keshwala caught and bowled for 52.

Tying up the Waterfield Road end Daniel Hickinbottom bowled 12 consecutive overs returning figures of 1 for 33.Coming on as 5th bowler from the field end Alex Thompson bowled his flighted spin with Carillion looking to push the score along tried to attack Thompson by going down the wicket,this gave Max Lewin 2 stumping victims Pallow Patel for 32 and Kartik Ananthanarayan for 18.

From their 45 overs Carillion posted a score of 194 for the loss of 7 wickets, Thompson returning figures of 11 overs 3 wickets for 46 runs and Sam Hickinbottom 11 overs 3 wickets for 56 runs.

The score was kept below 200 by astute field placing by Punchard and excellent ground fielding by the whole Cropston team.

The Cropston openers Max Lewin and Ross Wormleighton put on 72 for the first wicket,with Lewin scoring 34 and Wormleighton 33. Number 3 Joe Pollard scored 21, there was then a mini collapse Sam Hickinbottom falling for 5 and Punchard for 7.

At 31 overs the Cropston score stood at 131 for the loss of 5 wickets with Daniel Hickinbottom batting with great resolve, he was then run out for 25, Thompson was bowled for no score.

With the batting hero of last week Alfie Loakes at the wicket with Ian Allen they both put bat to ball. Loakes taking 11 off one over and Allen 10 off another the winning post was insight, Loakes fell for 17 and Allen for 19.

With the 44th over to be bowled the score stood at 191 for the loss of 9 wickets with David Allen and Cropston veteran Jamie Torrance at the wicket, several singles were taken with Torrance keeping a cool head.

The final over was to bowled by Kyle Grobler the scores were tied at 194. Torrance defended the first ball and pushed the second to midoff for a single giving Cropston a win by one wicket in the 45th over, Allen being 6 not out and Torrance not out 2.

An excellent game in which no side deserved to lose,cricket being the winner. Cropston remain top of the league tied on points with Newtown Linford.