Boro building on
LITTLEBOROUGH made it two wins from two with a solid victory away at a sunny and blustery Enfield on Sunday.
Sadly two things marred the victory.
Firstly, an over zealous umpire and Littleborough’s inability to bowl the opposition after controlling the game throughout the day. Littleborough won the toss and Basharat started proceedings with bowling five wides off the first ball of the match.
Travis Townsend and Zac Perren took the score to 38 without any trouble before Perren attempted a late cut and was caught at the wicket for 10 off Jackson.
Clinton Perren joined Townsend in the middle and Townsend in particular was in imperious mood, helping himself to 50 off 72 balls including nine boundaries before next ball the umpire failed to hear a clear nick on the ball which would have missed leg stump anyway without the nick to leave the visitors on 80/2.
Out strode Chris Schofield to join his captain Perren in the middle and they were both in majestic form as Perren top scored with 74 before holing out to Liam Jackson on the long on boundary after putting on 119 with Schofield.
Next to depart was Schofield, adjudged lbw to Faheem Basharat for 55 and what followed was not pleasant at all as Schofield queried the decision of umpire Naeem when he should have known better, bit his tongue and walked off irrespective of whether he agreed with the call.
Lewis Wright bowled Ryan Miskella, Matthew Hernon and Thomas Pye in the final three overs as the innings closed on 233/7
Littleborough were then docked five runs for two breaches of discipline (the second of which was a batsman hitting his pad when frustrated – that now, apparently, is abuse of equipment, well in the eyes of an over zealous umpire it is).
Yes that’s right, two apparent breaches of discipline but only one penalty. Make from that what you like.
Enfield’s innings got off to a steady if not spectacular start and the score had moved to 16 when the opener Jack Cook slashed at Lewis Willman only to look on in disbelief as Miskella snaffled an outstanding one handed catch to his right.
Pro Ashen Silva and opener Wright then went about steading the ship and set off in search of the 234 required for victory.
Hamza Ali then entered the equation and his left arm spin steadied the flow of runs and he got his just deserves when he had pro Silva smartly caught at the wicket by Hernon.
Miskella then got in on the act and was rewarded for his nagging line and length when he removed the dangerous Wright care of a tumbling catch at extra cover by Schofield. 82/3.
Wickets continued to fall as the score reached 128/6.
This is when the visitors should have smelt blood and gone for the kill.
Unfortunately they did not and they failed to take another wicket until the 49th over.
Junaid took two wickets in the last over (one of which, Simon O’loughlin, was another appalling lbw decision by umpire Naeem, the aforementioned batman slamming his bat unpunished into the concrete slab on the way off, double standards came to mind) but came up one wicket and two points short.
Two wins from two for both first and second teams at Littleborough.
The ground is looking outstanding and the club is rocking. The future is looking bright for the rest of the season.