Last ball thriller gives Sileby their first win as Daniel’s late charge defeats Kegworth.

Sileby Town left it until the last ball to seal their first victory of the season against Kegworth Town by five wickets on Saturday in the Everards Premier League.

The visitors required just one from the last ball when Gethin King pulled away Ed Bird in an enthralling game as Sileby chased Kegworth’s 169 from the reduced 44 overs.

But it was Ryan Daniels’ late smash and grab raid at the end of the innings when his 33 from just 22 deliveries gave Sileby Town their first 24 points of the season.

With the rest of the county suffering from the torrential downpours, both sides were very lucky to get a game in at King George 5th Playing Fields, and captain Liam Kinch asked Kegworth to bat first.

The toss proved decisive for Kinch’s men, and it was Ellis who made the early breakthrough removing Craig Ashcroft for just two in the fourth over.

Clint Baker was the next man to be walking back the following over, when Sam Gale managed to find the edge of Baker to brother Luke at second slip.

Rob Moorhouse had the task of stabilising the innings along with opener Adam Meads from the fifth over with the scores at 8-2. But the third wicket partnership was only worth 13 runs before Gale picked up his second wicket of the afternoon, dismissing Meads for just six.

Kegworth were soon floundering on 21-3 in the 11th over, and Sileby’s bowlers were getting their just rewards for their tight lines in conditions which would favour any bowler.

Josh Hodge and Moorhouse had started to repair the early damages done by Sileby’s strike bowlers and Hodge looked to have settled with the senior of the two when they put on a partnership of 32 for the fourth.

Aleem Mahmood and Ryan Dawson, making his first team debut in the Everards Premier League replaced Ellis and Sam Gale respectively but they failed to make a breakthrough until it was Liam Kinch with his off-break that had trapped Hodge in front of his stumps for 14.

Returning overseas Tom Bevan came to the crease with the score on 53-4 in the 19th over, and he managed to put on a partnership of 58 with Moorhouse. Both Bevan and Moorhouse were beginning to test the fielders, picking up singles and putting Sileby under pressure.

Moorhouse departed for a fine knock of 43, picking out Ryan Dawson in the deep from the bowling of Kinch for his second of the game. With just under 12 overs remaining, Kegworth were on 111-5 by the time Doug Savige came in at seven, but Bevan was able to reach his half-century, in a knock which was urgently required by Kegworth.

However, Bevan eventually departed hitting it straight to Luke Gale down at long-on for a superb knock of 53 off the bowling of Ben Cavey, elevating Kegworth to 159-6 before a flurry of  late wickets had given the home side a set back they did not need.

Savige was bowled by Matt Ellis for 21, and just three balls later, Cavey removed captain Jordan Holmes for 0 with the score now 159-8.

Gareth Isaac huge six off Cavey had pushed Kegworth over 166, but Ian Dade had got bowled by the off-spinner to gift him his third wicket of the afternoon.

Isaac was the last man to go, with Ellis bowling him for nine leaving Sileby to chase 169 from their 44 overs.

Cavey, the club’s second team captain who was called up in aid of Jordan King’s absence had been given the role of opening up with Dave Torr, and with Cavey being in fine form in recent weeks, he was able to forward his form to Kegworth’s bowlers.

Cavey and Torr made exactly 50 before Torr became Dade’s first victim with his slow right arm, finding Gareth Isaac in the in-field for 27 in the 15th over. Savige then picked up his only wicket of the game dismissing Cavey for 21 to which it brought Luke Gale and Mahmood together in the middle.

Gale played very patiently, valuing his wicket, applying himself carefully throughout the Sileby innings. Mahmood departed to Bevan for just eight.

Kinch and Gale enjoyed a stubborn partnership together in the middle order, frustrating the bowlers during periods of the game. Boundaries were limited in the second innings, and Kegworth, defending a relatively low total, were bowling tighter as the game went on.

Baker, pre-season signing for Kegworth from Countesthorpe who had trained with Sileby in the winter briefly, had made a breakthrough removing Kinch, caught by Moorhouse for 26, having Sileby had 128-4, who required 42 from the last seven overs.

It wasn’t until the 41st over when Luke Gale was finally out, trapped leg before wicket, much to his anger to Baker for his second for 36 off 82 deliveries.

At 140-5, the run rate required increased when the unbeaten Ryan Daniels and Gethin King were at the crease, needing 30 from  just 24 balls. But Daniel’s two huge maximums off Ed Bird had reduced the deficit.

Sileby then headed in to a last ball thriller once again, just like Kibworth away, but were able to avenge their demons when it was King who’s boundary had gifted his side the full 24 points.

Maximum points were more than welcome as Sileby languish towards the wrong end of the table, and weather permitting, Kinch’s charges can now look forward in confidence to Saturday’s tie versus newly promoted Ashby Hastings at Mill Lane.

MATCH SCORECARD

Sileby Suffer Defeat to Local Rivals in Cup

Sileby Town suffered a two wicket defeat to local rivals Barrow & Burton CC at Mill Lane last night, in the quarter-finals of the Joe Orton Cup.

With Barrow chasing Sileby’s 118 off just 14 eight ball overs, the visitors knocked out the home side with just one ball to spare after Aktar’s quick fire 39.

Micky Ruddle won the toss and had elected to bat, despite the wicket looking slow.

Luke Gale and Dave Torr got off to a relatively slow start and it was Tom Shipman who picked up the first wicket removing Gale (10), after he top edged it to Rishi Patel at long off.

Liam Kinch joined Torr at the crease before the young right arm bowler removed Torr’s bails, playing all round a straight one as he departed for 15.

Clarke remained wicketless throughout his three over spell, but just went for 11 runs in his 24 deliveries.

Left arm spinner Ryan Dew replaced Clarke,  but it wasn’t until his second over where he picked up the wicket of Richard Preston, as he tried to sweep Dew to deep square but was trapped leg before wicket for just 12.

Kinch played lovely for his 43, until he was caught, falling to Dew, before he picked up the wickets of both Mo Khan (5) and Joe Charity (5) to complete his four wickets.

Micky Ruddle (18*), along with Sam Gale (2) helped Sileby to their target of 118-6, as they look set to defend their total.

In reply, Rishi Patel hit a useful 20, after Dawson had removed both Kara and Mo Bobat for eight and three respectively. Aktar joined Patel but it was Sam Gale’s left arm spin that deceived the opener and bowled him.

Grew’s exploits, which included a couple of maximums had Barrow well within sight of Sileby’s target.

Ruddle picked his his first wicket having Grew caught at long-on for 25 before a late flurry of wickets.

Jack Williamson (6) was soon run out after poor communication and Gareth Williamson (1) soon followed him back to the clubhouse after Kinch had him caught and bowled, which appeared to be a very soft dismissal.

Aktar was eventually dismissed for 39 when Ruddle had him caught behind to Richard Preston for his second wicket of the night.

The late collapse in wickets had the game back in the balance, and it was Kinch again bowling Clarke (2), but it was young Tom Shipman (8*) who held his nerve to see Barrow over the line.

Sileby’s impressive run in the Joe Orton Cup has come to an end but the runner’s up of this competition will look to maintain their position at the top of the LCA Thursday Evening Premier League for the rest of the season.

Sileby continue good form with win over Rothley

Sileby Town Thursday XI win yet again in the Loughborough Cricket Association Premier League as they overcame Rothley Park CC by 5 wickets.

The home side capped off a terrific bowling performance by knocking off Rothley’s score of 104-8 in 14 overs with just two balls to spare.

In blustery conditions, the visiting captain chose to bat first as they look to set a target for the home side.

Sam Ward was able to pick up plenty of singles in the opening overs of the game, from the bowling of Ryan Dawson and Adam Hackett, but  he was only able to secure a 20 run partnership with opening batsman H Barr playing all round Ryan Dawson’s delivery, as he was bowled for just six.

Richard Mear joined Ward at the crease with the score at 20-1 and both batsman were keeping the run rate up to at least eight an over. Ward was able to manipulate the in-field, hitting the gaps where he had consistently found from the opening bowlers, down to the third man region and in front of square leg  and between mid-wicket.

Kinch replaced Hackett with his off-break but was unable to make a breakthrough for the second wicket before Dawson finished his spell of 4-0-28-1.

Kinch then changed ends with Ruddle coming on with his slow-medium pace and he was able to pick up the wicket of Mear after he played nicely for his 26 runs from just 23 balls. But he will have felt he had missed out as he was caught by Dawson on the deep square boundary, pulling a full toss that should have gone for a maximum.

Just three balls later, Ward went back to a full ball and was bowled for 37 to the bowling of Kinch, as it stayed slow and low. He could have had two wickets in successive deliveries after wicket-keeper Joe Charity had fumbled a stumping that gave Chris Bulmer another lifeline. But Kinch had  Bulmer playing all round which removed his bails, and Rothley were now 72-4 after they were in a solid position just overs before.

Ruddle picked up his second wicket of the night after Williams miss-hit had found Sam Gale at long-on which set off Rothley’s middle order collapse.

Former Sileby Town men Nick Mason and Phil Hackett had the chance to free their arms with just under two overs remaining of Rothley’s innings, but tight bowling at the end from Ruddle and Kinch had halted their push to set a respectable score after their collapse.

Mason soon departed to the hands of Kinch after he lofted his shot to Ruddle at mid-wicket for just eight and Kinch finished his spell with figures of 4-0-25-3.

Hackett didn’t stick around for much longer as he was bowled for 13 from Ruddle which then he was on a hat-trick, instantly removing jack Richardson for a golden duck after he played on.

Josh Simpson managed to pick up a single on the hat trick ball and Rothley ended their innings on 104-8, but with a collapse of just 25-5, they may have just fell 20 runs short of what would have been a respectable total.

Dave Torr and the returning Charles Kindleysides, who re-joined Sileby Town from newly-promoted Premier League Broom Leys, opened for the home side.

Ward had opened up with spin, and not pace with Mason and Simpson. Torr and Kindleysides played with patience and hitting the bad balls for four. Simpson got the wicket of Torr at 41-1, picking out Bulmer at long-off. Asim Khan’s near run-a-ball 10 came to a brief end falling to Simpson for his second of the evening.

After two clean sixes straight over the bowler’s head, Kindleysides soon followed suit, this time stumped off the bowling of Richardson for 32. Mo Khan was then trapped in front for just three and Sileby were now 64-4.

But Sam Gale stuck around with Kinch, and it was his mainstay that enabled Kinch to show his ability and his experience in this kind of situation.

With just four required, Gale was caught by Bulmer for 13, cruelly after his partnership with Kinch had near enough sent Sileby over the finishing line.

Rothley bowled tight and had taken the game in to the last over and it was Kinch who’s crashing four had given Sileby another victory in the midweek league.

Sileby looked set to face Barrow & Burton in Joe Orton cup fixture at home but with the torrential downpour, the game was postponed and will be played next week, weather permitting.

For now, Sileby are at home again and will face Loughborough Carillon in the league as they look to continue their fine run in the Premier Division.

Thursday side through to next round of Cup

Sileby Town Thursday XI were given a pass through to the next stage of the Joe Orton Cup as Walton CC were unable to fulfil the fixture.

Therefore, Micky Ruddle’s side now face Barrow & Burton at home with the fixture to be arranged for next week.

Two’s record first victory of the season

Sileby Town 2nd XI picked up their first win of the 2012 over Lutterworth 2nd XI by seven wickets at Mill Lane.

The in-form Rob Moore scored 67 not out as he helped the home side with just over eight overs to spare.

Ben Cavey had made changes to his side that got the winning draw at Market Harborough last week, with teenage pace bowler Fred Notman coming in to replace Adam Hackett and Phil Chamberlain went in to the First team replacing Moore in a surprise tactical change.

But it was to  the second team’s advantage as the hosts had to thank Moore for his contribution with the bat.

Notman, making his Second team debut, did himself no harm for next week’s fixture with a superb bowling display, as he dismissed opening batsman Baxter for just 14, picking out Moore to take his only wicket of the match.

Captain J Pickering’s constant flashing soon came to an end as he made 24, edging behind to Cavey at first slip, to the bowling of Micky Ruddle.

At 43-2, Rayner was joined at the crease by Hack (3), the latter’s stay at the crease was short-lived as Charity, who had the wicket-keeping duties instead of Sean Dudley, had his first caught behind of the season, from Ryan Dawson.

Ruddle and Dawson halted the visitors charge as their middle-over spell had prevented Lutterworth from scoring freely from the medium pacers.

Ruddle was rewarded for his tight bowling with a second wicket, bowling Farmer for just a solitary run and the away side soon found themselves at 62-4 just before the drinks break.

Rayner surpassed 50, batting with patience and punishing the bad ball for four on more than one occasion and he was able to anchor the innings along with A Pickering, as they forged a 86 run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Cavey’s off-break had finally dismissed Pickering for a respectable 27 and instantly Mo Khan had Salter caught and bowled for a golden duck before Lutterworth finished their 45 overs on 163-6.

For the second week running, Sileby’s bowling performance was disciplined along with their fielding which was enough to stop their opponents from posting what could have been a good score.

On the back of last week’s opening partnership, Dudley was not able to reproduce his innings against Market Harborough as he fell to Salter, caught and bowled for 12.

However, as each over went by, Sileby batted with more confidence. With Cavey batting around Moore, the stocky batsman smashed eight fours and two sixes in his 73 ball 63 not out.

Cavey fell three shy of his half century to the bowling of Cader and Mo Khan followed suit for 12. But it was Moore and Charity who sent Sileby past Lutterworth’s target and Sileby picked up their first victory of the season.

The two’s look to forward their promising form as they prepare for Egerton Park away on Saturday, which could be another test for Cavey’s men.