Sharpe boys get C'thorpe close

The game was remarkably similar to last week, so the report didn't take much thinking about. We bowled well but dropped vital catches, we recovered the position but the opposition tail wagged. Ben gave us a decent start, before a mid order collapse, a senior pro made the score respectable, but ultimately in a losing cause. So let's add a few details!

Tom and Rich picked up early wickets and Dave's direct hit ran out Bennett as Houghton slipped to 24-3 Gaz bowled a really tight spell but Ahktar made a brisk 50 making the most of his luck. Daniel Scudamore initially supported Ahktar but then blossomed making an excellent 63 but at 144-7 Houghton were struggling.

Ollie Ellis and Robbie Spencer both made late order runs as Houghton reached an unlikely 208 Gaz finished with 3-28 In reply Gaz went for a brisk 15 but Ben played a great knock as wickets fell around him, Daniel Scudamore being the main threat. Similar to last week the umpire adjudged Ben LBW when a deserved 50 looked on. Dave took over the chase, supported by the skip and between them put the innings back on track with an excellent 50 partnership

However the asking rate was high when Joe lost his bat and his wicket in the same shot when a huge swing found the bat finishing at backward square leg and the ball in the keepers hands as the rain made things a little slippy. Tom went over the ropes but the returning Scudamore soon tidied up the tail finishing with 6-47 to add to his 63 runs with the bat.

A disappointing result but the fight for survival goes on with a visit from Ibstock next week.