Egerton Park: Firsts hold on for Carillon draw; Seconds slip up at Whetstone

Hosting Loughborough Carillon in conditions favourable for batting, Park lost the toss and were asked to bowl first.

Some good bowling early on went unrewarded as the edge was found several times without the ball going to hand.

With wickets intact the visitors were able to build momentum and with a particular liking to Glover’s bowling were able to post 244-7, despite the efforts of Zaheer Hussain (4 for 48) which was perhaps 20 to 30 runs above par.

In reply, Hussain chipped in with 40 and middle order batsman Charlie Madden top scored with 54, but wickets fell regularly as Park struggled to keep up with the run rate.

It was left to Park’s last-wicket pair, and opening bowlers, Panchal and Watchorn, batting with damaged fingers, to hold out for the draw.

The result dropped them to sixth, but they will be hoping to climb the table with victory at struggling Barwell on Saturday.

Carillon: 244-7.

Bowling: K. Panchal 11-3-55-1; N. Watchorn 8-0-33-0; J. Barnard 5-0-37-1; Z. Hussain 12-1-48-4; T. Glover 7-0-51-0; H. Lovegrove 2-0-17-1.

Park: R. Bailey 12, S. Rose 19, Z. Hussain 40, T. Glover 2, C. Madden 54, J. Bates 8, R. Haffenden 24, J. Barnard 5, H. Lovegrove 0, K. Panchal 2*, N. Watchorn 1*, Extras 26. Total: 193-9.

* Egerton Park’s Second XI put in a lacklustre performance at Whetstone on Saturday.

Putting the opposition in to bat first, Park started well with Rivers getting an early breakthrough.

But they struggled to restrict the run rate, and even when Tyler removed top scorer Patel, stumped for 43, Whetstone still pushed on.

The visitors did slowly begin to take wickets with Barnard, Creed and Rodenby all having success, and when Alex Barber took three wickets in the last over, there was a glimmer of hope as Park were left to chase 191.

Skipper Mould’s decision to open the batting backfired when he went without scoring, and with Rivers gone, Park had to rebuild.

The old timers Tyler, Bailey and Lees all got going, but not enough to see Park home, and despite an excellent rearguard stand from young Pedlar and Barber, the visitors were bowled out for 133.

Park: Tyler 18, Mould 0, Rivers 5, Bailey 36, Lees 29, Pedlar 14, Creed 0 Barnard 0, Barber 9*, Rodenby 3, Extras 19. Total: 133.

Whetstone: 191.

Bowling: Creed 12-1-48-1; Rivers 8-3-29-1; Barnard 10-2-29-1; Barber 6-0-22-4; Tyler 4-0-14-1; Rodenby 4-0-30-2.