On a cold, wet and miserable day Ley Hill were roundly thrashed by champions Hughenden Valley.  Batting first, Hughenden looked to be in trouble at 10-2 but, eager to put last week’s shocking 55 all out behind them, skipper/wicketkeeper Zaib led from the front to make an admirable 87 from 81 balls.  He was assisted by A. Ahmed who made an excellent 69 in a third wicket stand of 141.  Ali made 36 and N. Ahmed 27 as Hughenden went on to make a daunting 262-8 declared.

Ley Hill’s bowlers suffered in the rain and cold; the only bright spots being Kash Shakoor’s longest bowling spell for the team – 11 overs, 4-70 – and U17 player Stephen Walter (making his third successive start for Ley Hill First XI) who impressed with some fine fielding and was unlucky not to claim a wicket in his first spell of bowling for the team.

Ley Hill’s batsmen had a brief opening flurry from their opening batsmen (Az Shakoor making 14) before their first wicket fell at 20.  Any ideas of a high score were scuppered by Hughenden’s excellent bowlers and fielders and by the time the Hill had managed to get to 44 seven wickets were down.  Leadbitter top scored with 17 and Stephen Walter 14 before being well caught by Aslan.  Zaib and A. Ahmed took three catches each and Pervaz ended with bowling figures of 3-25 as Ley Hill were bowled out for 96.

With two defeats and a losing draw so far this season, Ley Hill know they must improve if they are not to be involved in a relegation battle.  Hughenden, on the other hand, fully recovered from last week’s hiccup, must once again be firm favourites for the title.