LEY HILL MAKE A FIGHT OF IT

High flying Hughenden Valley were forced to fight all the way for their victory over a spirited Ley Hill side.

After losing their first wicket for 23, Babar (71) and Ijaz (32) made an excellent 2^nd wicket stand of 124 to set Hughenden well on the way to a big score.

The Ley Hill bowlers made life difficult for them with a regular turn over of wickets; Rob Thompson’s

3-49 from 10 overs and Jon Lown’s 2-43 from 8 making sure Ley Hill at least won some bowling points.

An exciting 8^th wicket stand of 67 by Wadit (24) and Latif (36 not out) took Hughenden’s final total to 242-8 when they declared after 40 overs.

But if Hughenden thought they would have an easy time bowling out Ley Hill with the 50 overs they had allowed themselves they were in for a shock. Despite being 30-4, the Hill’s batsmen started to dig in. Runswick (18), Walter (21) and a terrific 7^th wicket stand of 73 by Thompson (28) and a superb 37 by Craig Peterson helped Ley Hill to a total of 155 - and four valuable batting points.

Ijaz laid claim to be Man of the Match with his 4-21 and was ably assisted by Latif (2-31) and Ahmed (2-28) as Hughenden won with 9 overs to spare.

This was an exciting and thoroughly good-humoured, well-behaved match enjoyed enormously by both sets of players and all supporters.

Hughenden Valley: 242-8 dec. (40 overs)

Ley Hill: 155 all out. (42 overs – from 51 available).