Everards County League: Thorpe Arnold secure vital victory

Thorpe entertained Broomleys on Saturday knowing it was a must-win game for their Division One survival hopes.

And they produced a very good all-round performance to secure the win and, more importantly, the maximum 30 points.

Having won the toss, Thorpe batted first and got off to a good start through Dom Exton and Myles Hickman until Dom was adjudged lbw to one he had hit into his pads.

Every batsman was getting in, but then losing their wickets until the returning Mark Matthews came in and played a key role.

Matthews manipulated the ball around the field and hit the bad delivery to the boundary to compile an excellent 55, allowing the other batsman to work around him.

Thorpe posted a competitive 194 from their 45 overs, but knew early wickets would be important.

Broomleys overseas player hit four fours as he looked to take the fight to Thorpe, but once he was out, caught at cover by Hickman off Pepperdine, the wickets fell at a steady rate.

The visitors were eventually all out in the 31st over for only 94 runs.

All of the Thorpe attack bowled well, keeping the pressure on while being backed up in the field by some excellent catching and fielding.

It was a promising return of the killer instinct for the home side, having let a number of games slip through their fingers this season from winning positions.

With six games left Thorpe lie second-bottom of Division One, but are fighting hard to secure their place in the division, knowing they still have all of the teams around them to play in the coming weeks.

They begin at Kibworth Second XI on Saturday (1pm start).

Thorpe: D. Exton 12, M. Hickman 26, R. Garner 13, S. Woods 17, M. Matthews 55, A. Greives 5, M. Carnell 13, R. Randall 1, T. Smith 14, T. Hirst 0*, J. Pepperdine 0*, Extras 38. Total: 194-9.

Broomleys: 94.

Bowling: J. Pepperdine 7-3-9-2; T. Smith 3.2-0-14-2; T. Hirst 12-0-47-2; M. Matthews 9-4-9-3.