Amateur still top of the league
HINCKLEY Amateur continued their unbeaten run with a resounding win against Bardon Hill on a sun-drenched day at Ashby Road.
Amateur batted first as openers Jason Tipping and Garry Roach put on 51 for the first wicket.
After Tipping was out for 26 from a ball delivered by Bardon Hill captain Ben Wooldridge, Shoaib Dadu joined Roach to take the score to 111. Dadu was then caught behind by keeper Andrew Richardson - like Tipping was - for 24 as a cluster of wickets went down and Roach was out lbw for a well-crafted 52.
Sam Rowe made a typically aggressive 38 and James Axon an unbeaten 16 as Amateurs were bowled out in the last over for 197, Dominic Stevenson and Shane Wooldridge taking three wickets each for the visitors.
Amateur bowlers took wickets at regular intervals with Ash Harrison taking a stunning caught and bowled to get rid of opener Warwick Miller for just five runs, Harrison finishing with 3-35.
Spinners Butterworth with 4-30, and Alan York 2-33 bowled out Bardon for 118 and winning by 78 runs.
With a number of regulars missing skipper York praised the lads who came in and showed the clubs strength in depth to hold on to top spot away from the chasing pack.
Amateur 2nd XI had a hard fought win in Loughborough against Charnwood Old Boys. Steve Proctor securing 5-25, Surya Poodipeddi acheiveing 2-36 and with one wicket each for Cliff Pardoe, Nigel Hind and Matt Smith the Amateur bowlers did well to restrict the hosts to 138.
Although openers Steve Mustin and Nigel Hind soon departed, Paul Ley then made a steady 62, with good support from Craig Bresland 27 the Amateurs won with four wickets to spare.