STILL UNLUCKY!!!

Ley Hill continue to be the unluckiest team in the Mid Bucks Premier League. In a match that nearly didn’t happen (Hughenden Valley had no wickets!) and having done the hard work bowling Hughenden out for a relatively cheap 151, they then failed to get the necessary runs to win the match – losing by 5 with just two balls left!

Hughenden started their innings poorly; they were 13-3 in the 4^th over. They had a brief respite when Ail (31) and Ahmed (25) – who was brilliantly caught and bowled by Rob Thomson – put on a stand of 38. Skipper Zaib then played an excellent, unbeaten 53 but very soon ran out of partners with only Nawaz (20) getting into double figures.

Jon Lown made the catch of the day diving to take Azam in a match when the Hill’s fielding was generally very good. Az Shakoor took 2-27 in his first spell this season, Lown 2-46 from 11 overs and captain Kevin Phillips 2-10 in just three.

Needing 152 to win Ley Hill made a decent start with Az Shakoor (21) and Andy Rennard (24) taking them to 57-2. Sadly the runs dried up in the middle and wickets started to fall at regular intervals. Craig Ottaway (12) and a spirited innings by teenager Jack Thompson (13) took the Hill to within a whisker of victory. Needing 7 off the last over – and with father and son Rob & Jack Thompson at the crease – Rob was cruelly run out with Ley Hill on 146.

Ali bowled well (4-35) causing Ley Hill trouble throughout his 12 overs and Nawaz, although only taking one wicket, only went for 10 runs off his 12. Tasadaq’s 2-26 was another impressive spell of bowling.