Over 50s Eye Knockout Success as Season Reaches Crucial Stage

With a focus on the Leicestershire Over 50s, this interim report looks ahead to the up and coming knockout phase of the season. Each of our two teams are competing in the midlands groups before the competition goes national, and the second XI is at that point now. The first team has one more group game before we discover who and where their next game will be.

Talking of the first team, there have been two games so far during July. The table-topping Cambridgeshire were the hosts and lived up to their billing at Fitzwilliam College. A total of 261 for nine in 45 overs looked a remote possibility when the Leicestershire top order was reduced to 56 for six wickets. The recovery to 188 all out was led by Steve Matthew who, from the number eight berth, smote a lusty 51 from 42 balls, but it proved in vain when the stumps were drawn.

A solid all-round performance at Egerton Park, where the visitors were Norfolk, produced the welcome win. 253 for six was the result of consistency from the top six batsmen, all of whom reached double figures, with the main contributors being Mike Sutliff (67 on debut) and Craig Wilson (58). There was a worrying look to the scoreboard as the Norfolkian openers compiled a stand of 125 without looking in any trouble at all. Once the main man departed for 83, there followed a veritable procession back to the tent and the eventual sum of 227 all out makes things sound a lot closer than the reality.

A visit to Flitwick to face Bedfordshire on the 22nd July will be a real belter as just four points separate the two teams in second and third spots in the group. With 20 points at stake we will do well to hold onto second place. After that the play-offs beckon.

The 50s seconds already know their opponents in the knockout/play-off phase: Cheshire, who might well be after revenge after our 60s first team beat them in last year’s Vase final. (Visit the LCCC club shop to view the trophy and team photo). Our lads earned the home tie (at Cropston on Wednesday 22nd July) by losing only one game all season to the eventual group winners, Yorkshire. In probably the finest game of the season thus far, once again against Cambridgeshire at Fitzwilliam College, it was down to the skipper and number 10 batsman Dave Botting to pull off a quite remarkable win. Chasing 240 we looked down and out when, after 34 overs the sorry total was 172 for eight, soon to be 193 for nine off 37 overs. You know what they say: “When the going gets tough…”. Well, they don’t come much tougher than Botty and away he went on his way to 41* from 38 balls, punctuated with six boundaries until, with five needed from the last over, and accompanied by Mark Senior, the pair scrambled five singles to win off the last ball. If you bump into David somewhere, he’ll probably talk you through it all! You won’t have to ask twice.

Nottinghamshire were soundly beaten at Cropston where 245 for nine (Tom Rowe making 88) proved too many for the visitors who finished on 215 for four due to a disciplined performance from all the bowlers, and that put to bed the league phase of the season.

And so on to the play-offs. All spectators will be most welcome at Cropston on Wednesday where the action begins at one o’clock. It could be another cracker!