MATCH REPORT

Langtons won a terrific nerve-jangling Midweek Cup Quarter-Final tie at Kibworth by the narrowest of margins. Skipper Andy Phillips won the toss and elected to bat first but Langtons were in immediate trouble following the loss of openers Nick Jelley (6) who played on to Dan Broughton, and Charlie Standley (10) who chipped Greg Gibson to Dan Pedley on the long off boundary. The big-hitting third wicket pair of Jamie Marchant (22) and Graham Scott (36) gave Langtons' innings the impetus it needed until Marchant offered a return catch to Tom Bailey and Scott followed soon afterwards. Jamie Kendall (15) maintained the momentum in the final overs, hitting the evening's biggest six, until he too holed out to Bailey. Mark Ward and Kieron Linnett pushed the total to 115-6, a respectable effort on a lively pitch in fading light.

 

Opening the innings with the off spin of Lee Wilson alongside Joe Woodford's pace proved a tactical masterstroke as the pair accounted for Kibworth's top order of Dan Pedley, Kean Folley and Dan Broughton in quick succession. Needing only eight an over, Kev Riley kept the match within Kibworth's grasp with some energetic scampering between the wickets. But with the light fading fast boundaries became increasingly difficult to come by, especially following the introduction of Lee Linnett into the attack. Kibworth's running became desperate and good fielding accounted for big-hitting Bob Beevers and Ed Bale both run out. Following Bale's departure the seventh wicket pair of Riley and Joe Cuthbert needed only six to win from the final over, bowled by Lee Linnett, which came down from three from the last two balls when Riley drove the penultimate delivery for two, leaving scores level and Kibworth favourites, requiring only a single run. However Linnett produced the perfect yorker, straight and fast, uprooting Riley's off stump to give Langtons the win having lost one fewer wickets.

john bleby - 15/06/2009