LILLEY (113-5, G Tompkins 31) beat Bourne End (112-7, Hammond 4-41) by five wickets
Ten man Lilley broke their duck at Bourne End with a comfortable victory after a miserly bowling performance.
James Ashby won his fourth toss on the trot and elected to field in a time game at overcast but warm Bourne End CG. The years were officially rolled back, with Ashby and long time opening bowling partner Ken Hammond taking the new ball for the first time in three years. After two hours of bowling 32 overs between them, Bourne End were 76-6! Ashby (3-33 from 16) then gave way for Gareth Tompkins, but Hammond bowled throughout the innings, to finish with 4-41 from no less than twenty overs.
The day started well for Lilley. JA’s eventful first over saw GT drop a difficult chance at slip, only to grab one in the same position the very next delivery. Opposition skipper Akhtar was then sent back to pavilion, struck on the finger by an Ashby delivery and retired hurt. Hammond continued the carnage, picking up three quick wickets as Ashby was again out of luck – drops from Kendall and Paddington. The skipper then picked up a couple more wickets before giving way to a pacey burst from GT. Hammond continued on his merry way, grabbing a fourth, one of two fine catches by GT from his bowling and a third in total for the innings. Bourne End finished 112-7 from their 2 and a half hours in bat.
Lilley’s regular opening pair of GT and Doug Tomsett was seperated with Doug unavailable, so Ashby filled the void. The pair added 56 for the first wicket, with GT playing some sublime strokes on his way to a rapid 30, before the young South African holed out to deep mid off.
Pirton’s destroyers-in-chief, Taz and Az, were in and out for a combined total of zero within four balls with Lilley looking in trouble. Brad Tomkins (8) and Ashby steadied the ship, before the former toe-ended one to mid wicket. Ashby and Hammond then batted on for eight overs, bringing Lilley within twenty runs of victory, before Ashby was out lbw for 30. Phil Horner (8 not out) and Hammond (19 not out) then blazed the remaining runs needed in double quick time to leave Lilley victorious by five wickets with ten overs to spare. Hoorah!
