Kinch steers Sileby to derby win at Loughborough Town

ON Saturday the Leicestershire and Rutland Cricket League started and for Loughborough Town the real heroes of the week were the ground staff at the club and at Loughborough Grammar School that enabled both their 1st & 3rd teams to play on superb wickets despite all the recent rain.

A new look 1st XI under a new Captain, Sanath Corjuvenkar, took the field against Sileby and after initial tight bowling especially from Josh Forknall who conceded just 22 runs from 8 overs and two wickets for Dinuk De Silva, a late flourish from Liam Kinch of 56 off 46 balls saw Sileby to a respectable 224-5 off their 50 overs.

In reply Loughborough started promisingly with 65 being added for the first wicket before the new captain was dismissed for 13. After that it was left to his partner, Vivek

Parekh, to hold the innings together with a fine 84 but wickets fell regularly with the Town ending on 190-9 to give Sileby victory by 34 runs.

The 2nd XI were due to travel to Syston but a waterlogged ground meant their game had been called off on Wednesday.

The 3rd XI entertained Kirby Muxloe who struggled against the pace of Dhruvanka Das who took 5-21 1 to be dismissed for 123. In reply, despite losing Matt Ternouth to his first ball, fellow opener Philip Lowe held the innings together with a fine 78 not outsto see Town home to a seven wicket win and a good start to the season.

Next Sunday sees Loughborough Town’s 1st XI play their first game in the National Club Championship against Sleaford at Park Road, 1pm start.