Quorn unable to build on last week’s victory

QUORN’S unwanted record, or failing to win consecutive games in 2019, continued on Saturday, when they failed to back up their fine victory against Barrow; falling to a three wicket defeat at Leicester Teachers & Mossdale.

Looking to take advantage of the scorching temperatures, on winning the toss, Quorn captain, Matt Blackwell chose to bat. Will Huish, hoping to get the innings off to a quick start, hit Chris Newman for a monstrous six over midwicket in the fourth over, but fell three balls later, clean bowled by the same bowler. Andy Kenneth was joined by Freddie Salmon at the crease and the pair scored steadily, looking largely untroubled by the LT&M bowling.

In the 21st over, Kenneth, who had started to become somewhat becalmed nicked off to Rohit Navin and was caught behind for 27, leaving Quorn 79-2. The 79-2 soon became 85-3 when Salmon, who was just starting to look threatening, being particularly fierce on anything on his pads, became Newman’s second victim, caught and bowled, for a fine 38.

Sadly for Quorn, a start which promised a score in excess of 200 failed to reach expectations. Despite a brisk 15 from Tom Errington and a watchful 23 by Chris Cooper, Bipin Arjane (3-34) and Dale Stean (3-35) frustrated the Quorn batsmen into playing rash shots, leading to their demise. Wickets fell regularly as the Quorn innings tailed off, eventually reaching 146 all out in the 43rd over.

The LT&M innings started slowly, with Jon Reynolds starting with four successive maidens. However, openers Charles Gill and Owen Stean were not perturbed as they looked to score runs whenever possible, as they put on 91 for the opening wicket.

Eventually, it was Matt Blackwell‘s seventh bowling change which reaped rewards as Tom Errington induced a return catch from Gill, who had made 40. The wicket led Quorn to return to Reynolds, who immediately induced Stean (42) into hitting a steepling catch, which was beautifully pouched by Freddie Salmon at mid-wicket. The wicket brought together the Lacximan brothers, Naresh and Nitesh, who shone briefly before Reynolds snared Naresh, caught behind for 7.

Reynolds, who finished with the fine figures of 3-25 from his 12 overs, found Mike Huggett’s outside edge to leave LT&M 116-4. Unfortunately for Quorn, they were unable to take another wicket until the home team were within a dozen runs of victory and despite 2-14 from Andy Kenneth, victory was achieved with three wickets and seven overs to spare.

Quorn, second from bottom in the table will have their work cut out for them over the next two weeks as they face Highfield Rangers and Asian sports, who occupy the top two positions. They can only hope that the team can finally produce some consistent performances and show what they are really capable of.