Everards County League: Hussain stars as Egerton Park sink Lutterworth

Egerton Park skipper Nick Watchorn has called on his batsmen to make a century after picking up a precious win on Saturday.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th Aug 2016, 12:49 BST
Updated 16th Aug 2016, 13:50 BST
Melton Times Cricketer of the Year Zaheer Hussain was on top form for Park with bat and ball EMN-160507-125929002Melton Times Cricketer of the Year Zaheer Hussain was on top form for Park with bat and ball EMN-160507-125929002
Melton Times Cricketer of the Year Zaheer Hussain was on top form for Park with bat and ball EMN-160507-125929002

Park’s First XI turned in a much-improved batting performance on previous weeks to beat Lutterworth by 54 runs and move up to seventh in Division Two.

The Melton side were good value for their win, Watchorn believed they were still only playing at 70 or 80 per cent of their capability.

He believes they can deliver more when they travel to Leicester Ivanhoe on Saturday.

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“We’ve played well and it’s really good to get over the line,” he said.

“But no-one has gone on to make a century this season in the league and this is something I want the top seven to focus on next week.

“It’s something they have all shown they are capable of.”

Park were asked to bat first as they looked to return to winning ways. The openers put on 50 before Tyler was trapped lbw in the 13th over for 11.

Despite Hussain going on to add 60, the home side’s batting fragility threatened to show its self again as they lost four wickets for only 30 runs and were reduced to 123-5 in the 31st over.

Charlie Madden’s reassuring 69, supported by the lower order, was crucial in Park posting a competitive score.

The hosts reached maximum batting points in the penultimate over as they set Lutterworth 208 for victory.

Park made early inroads when Panchal dismissed Fish, lbw, for one.

The prize wicket of Pickering (42) was eventually picked up by Hussain after the first teamer survived two very close calls when the ball narrowly missed the off stump and then the leg stump as he looked to be positive against Watchorn.

Hussain went on to return a match-winning haul of 6 for 26 which included a five-for of lbws for neutral umpire Genya Savin.

Egerton Park: Z. Hussain 60, G. Tyler 11, T. Glover 9, S. Rose 16, C. Madden 69, D. Burdett 6, J. Bates 8, R. Haffenden 0, K. Panchal 6, N. Watchorn 3*, C. Beeken 3*, Extras 16. Total: 207-9.

Lutterworth: 153.

Bowling: K. Panchal 5-1-25-1; N. Watchorn 7-0-38-0; Z. Hussain 10-1-26-6; T. Glover 10-1-36-2; C. Madden 3-0-23-1.