198 is not the Magic Number

After last week's scorcher the weather couldn't have been any different with the radiators on full blast and every wicket being greeted with a team huddle which lingered a bit to long. Nelson won the toss again and on what looked like a green top bowled first.

However on a postage stamp of an outfield and with the track representing a road , the visitors raced to 77 off 10 overs. With the opposition adopting a flash hard mentality they often found the boundary and rode their luck with a smart chance which Jacko was unlucky not to hold on to from Connor.

A double change of bowling stemmed the flow of runs slightly with the Skipper going for 12 runs off his first 6 overs. He got the first breakthrough bowling their opener through the gate. At the other end Ajmal was unlucky not to get a wicket with an edge which Keith was unable to keep hold of.

Leicester Cricketers seemed to have somewhere to go as they kept advancing down the track and looked to smash the ball into Bruntingthorpe. Waqas used this to his advantage on his debut spell and got 2 wickets with a C+B and a well worked stumping.

In awful winds and with the boundaries still flowing, the skipper threw the ball to Meggo for 3 overs of Right Arm round but unfortunately this didn't get the breakthrough we were opening for. A returning Connor and 2 run outs, one of them a superb direct hit from Wado resulted in a first innings score of 275 - 6. It was very testing conditions however given the drops, overthrows and streaky shots it was felt that this flattered the opposition.

Requiring 6 an over it would be a stretch but with some big hitters in the middle order it wasn't felt to intimidating of a target. Jonno and Reece opened and after taking 10 off the first over the run chase looked on. Cricketers opening bowler found pace and bounce that Niffy's hadn't been able to and provided a testing challenge. Reece being dropped by the keeper and Jonno being wrapped on the gloves. Reece was the first wicket to fall with their first change bowler quicker than their opener and went back to a straight delivery for 12. The two Hills battled through and Jonno was next to go with a genuine bouncer forcing him to a hook shot and was caught. Waqas was smiting the ball to the boundary with regularity and the Tom was next to go been bowled for 22. Meggo and Waqas could of been a very dangerous combo however Meggo was unable to get going and was bowled for 4. James and Jacko then couldn't get going and fell for 5 and 3 which seemed to put the possibility of a victory very faraway. Waqas had other ideas and brought up his 50 with a massive 6 and with Keith an able partner at the other end forged a frustrating partnership with Waqas eventually going for a brilliant 81 on debut. Once again a run chased flattered and ended on 198-9. However both weeks have shown lots of positives and hopefully next week will bring our first and deserved 25 points.

Player of the Match - Waqas