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Senior League: Birstall so close to title glory

Tue 8th September 2009

Article from the Leicester mercury on Tuesday 8th September.

Birstall Village are four points away from clinching the Premier Division title.

A crushing eight-wicket victory over Twycross kept them on course for glory.

Woodhouse Eaves are the only side who can catch them. They kept alive their hopes with a seven-wicket win at Leuva Patidar.

Woodhouse complete their programme at home to Twycross on Saturday and will be hoping that Birstall slip up at home to Newbold Verdon.

Julian Saye was the ace in the pack for Birstall against Twycross. The seamer took 4-13 as the visitors were bowled out for 54 in the 21st over. Andy Galpin then cracked 28 as Birstall galloped to victory.



Five wickets from Andy Stovell helped Woodhouse to keep the pressure on.

Sam Skeet chipped in with three victims as Leuva Patidar were bowled out for 109.

Steve Wiles then hit 53 to make sure Woodhouse reached their target. They are 21 points behind Birstall.

Third-placed Newbold Verdon can no longer claim the crown but they are still unbeaten. They gained their 12th win, one less than the top two, by eight wickets at Broughton Astley.

Paul Bateman claimed four wickets as the home side were bowled out for 103.

Newbold wasted no time in their run chase. Matt Gransden cracked 43 before he was out in the sixth over and fellow opener Huw Davies roared to 35.

Appleby Magna's opening bowlers were in devastating form at Leicester Caribbeans.

Russ Barker took 5-15 and Dominic Mirner 4-20 as the home side were reduced to 25-6.

Akeem Jarral hit 34 to spark a mini revival which took Caribbeans to 75 all out. However, Ben Duggins (43no) guided Appleby to a six-wicket win.

Opening batsman Dharmesh Patel was in superb form in Bharat Sports' seven-wicket win over Burton-on-the-Wolds.

Burton were bowled out for 140 and Patel cracked an unbeaten 85 to steer his side home.

Seamer Carl Sommer took 7-34 but could not prevent a seven-wicket defeat for Huncote at Wigston.

Ben Ashton's 49 led the hosts to 166 all out despite Sommer's fine spell. Tim Kirby hit 41 in Huncote's reply but Michael Dunkley took 5-41 to help dismiss them for 118.

Wigston beat Caribbeans by eight wickets in the Loros Cup final. Jarral's 78 off 45 balls helped Caribbeans to 229-6.

But Wigston openers Paul Newnham (111no) and Faizal Kassam (65) sparked the win with a stand of 142.

Wigston skipper Rob Hensman said of Newnham's knock: "It was the best innings I have seen. It was pure class."