A tough game this for Huncote, but they managed to claim a decent draw. Sharnford are an uncompromising set up that belies their league position and this was a good result for the home side. The pitch was green with the recent rain so it came as no surprise to see Sharnford's skipper chose to have a bowl.

Captain Tim Kirby opened with recalled keeper Mitch Hubbard, and the home side were off to a disastrous start when Hubbard drove Richings to Wray. A powerfull shot went straight to hand, unlucky for the batsman, and Huncote 1 down without a wicket on the board. Khawaja joined Kirby at the crease and the two made a slow but steady partnership to see of the new ball. Durose was sharp from the other end, causing problems.

Dale replaced the young quick after his 6 overs and the scoring rate started to increase, Richings bowling continuously from the other end. Peter Kirby was soon into the action with the score past 50, when Khawaja skied a pull shot off Dale. The new batsman scored quickly but played one shot too many and was caught and backward point for 17. Tim Kirby continued to accumulate runs now with the aid of Frazer Hubbard. The young batsmen though couldn't recapture last weeks form and was caught and square leg for 5.

Brewin strode to the crease and was immediately on the attack. After surviving a few close calls he soon set into the Sharnford attack and hit a huge six straight over Richings head. A few pulled fours saw him reach 30 before one stayed low and he was gone bowled. Danny Adcock joined Tim Kirby, who by now was eyeing up a well crafted 50, but the umpire had other ideas and with the score in the 130s, Kirby was adjudged LBW to Richings for 40. Both batsmen and bowler commented at tea he was unlikely to be out, which seemed to put the standing umpire in a bit of a sulk!

Swords and Adcock ran well, and Adcock struck some good boundaries in his 26. Once they both fell, Swords giving Richings his 5-wicket haul, Swann and Dyke continued the scoring and the innings finished on a decent 183-8. A top effort from the home side who tend to add good runs throughout the order.

Sharnford knew that to win the game they had to survive the new ball burst, the pitch much easy to bat on later in the innings. This they couldn't do, as a fired up Luke Dyke claimed 3 early wickets, and Wayne Smith 1 as Sharnford stared at 14-4. Durose senior though, and that man Richings again decided to battle out for the draw, and their partnership is what Sharnford needed.

Once Richings eventually fell, caught and bowled by Tim Kirby, the two Durose's shut up shot, the only notable incident when the elder batsmen was struck on the head by a Dyke bounder, drawing blood, but still Durose could not be removed from the crease. James Swann had a bowl, and kept things tight, but the home side only picked up a wicket in their last over as Smith bowled the impressive R Durose for 19. A Durose survived 44.5 overs for his 46, but at least Sharnford avoided defeat, ending 132-6.

MOM to Dyke for his opening burst.

Man of the Match- Luke Dyke

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