Lilley cruised to victory at sun kissed Kempston today, thanks to innings of 48 not out by Phil Clarke, 47 by in form skipper James Ashby and an unbeaten 35 by Cape Town Express Gareth Tompkins.
Lilley won the toss and chose to field on a greenish looking track. Despite some lovely bowling from Ashby, Tompkins and Clarke early doors, Kempston managed to put on a hundred for the first wicket on a wicket which played very true.
With the seamers toiling, the skipper turned to Taz to bowl some of his leg spin. The first ball produced the first wicket, and he went on to force two run outs and bag another two wickets to finish 3-49m an impressive return on a good track. Taz is now level on wickets with Ken Hammond for the year, having bowled 15 overs less. His economy rate of over five compared to Ken’s 2 an over tells a different story however…
Kempston posted 198-5 from their 40 overs, a reasonable total on a fair track. Lilley lost Eyres (5) early on, but Ashby and Gareth Tompkins settled down to put on 60 for the second wicket. Tompkins played on for ten and Ashby’s entertaining 47, including nine fours, was cut short by an Allbones yorker. Taz’s stay at the crease was as brief as a Craig Paddington love-making session and when Phil Horner, the birthday boy, was bamboozled by an Allbones slower delivery, Lilley were 101-5 at the halfway point.
Gareth Tompkins and Phil Clarke then formed an awesome partnership. Clarke thrashed his way to a classy 48 not out, including eight fours, and was robbed of a half century only by Tompkins who was in form nothing short of stunning. He whipped ten off three balls to win the match for Lilley and finished 36 not out..
Kempston skipper Allbones called Lilley ‘one of the best sides we play against’ and I’m happy to say we lived up to our billing, even without Hammond!
