BOYCE LEADS PARK TO VICTORY

Division One

Egerton Park v SIleby

Park won by 10 wickets

Young Stuart Broad, with some fierce hostile bowling, made an early breakthrough with two wickets in two balls to put Sileby on the back foot.

Broad was ably supported by the youthful Gregory, who picked up two wickets.

There was some resistance from Willet and Kinch, but Nick Newman tied the Sileby batsmen down, and with his accurate and wily left-arm spin put the squeeze on the run-rate.

Wickets began to fall, and the ground fielding of youngster Tubb and Bromwich, with the very capable keeping of Hodson, who made a slick leg-side stumping and a stunning catch, restricted Sileby to a total of 118. Newman (3-7) and Broad (4-34) did the damage.

Park only needed just over 20 overs to complete a one-sided win.

Boyce, fresh from his unbeaten 43 for Leicestershire's second team against Warwickshire, flayed the Sileby bowlers around the park.

He was especially severe against fellow Leicestershire under 19s team-mate Chamberlain.

He hit 14 fours in an unbeaten 83 and was ably supported by 16-year-old Michael Tubb, whose straight hitting and technique augers well for the future. He finished unbeaten on 25.

Sileby: 118 all out.

Bowling: Broad 4-34, Newman 3-7, Gregory 2-17, Bromwich 1-39.

Egerton Park: Boyce 83*, Tubb 25*. Extras 11. Total: 119-0.

Division Three

MELTON v

HINCKLEY AMATEURS

Winning draw to Melton

MELTON had the better of their game against Hinckley but once again the outfield was better suited to sheep grazing than cricket.

Batting first, Mullard and Evans made a solid start against accurate bowling, reaching 75 after 20 overs.

Evans (50) was first to depart, caught in the deep after a good knock, while Mullard was building a big score at the other end.

Triggs (7) and Carnell (3) quickly departed as Hendy joined Mullard, with the latter reaching an excellent century in the 40th over, including four sixes and nine fours.

Hendy (26) and Tew (11 not out) helped Mullard (121 not out) push the total to 232-4 from 45 overs.

After tea the visitors lost an early wicket to Webster, before a second wicket stand of 60 kept the game interesting.

After some lusty blows, Webster had opener Kendrick (49) well caught in the deep as the run-rate slowed.

Skipper Tew then claimed two wickets and Triggs one as Hinckley settled for a losing draw on 135-6 after 45 overs.

Melton: Mullard 121*, Evans 50, Triggs 7, Carnell 3, Hendy 26, Tew 11*. Extras 14. Total: 232-4.

Hinckley: 135-6.

Bowling: Tew 13-5-29-2, Webster 15-2-57-2, Triggs 8-3-20-1, Carnell 5-3-3-0, Hendy 3-0-13-0, N. Chapman 2-0-9-0.

THORPE ARNOLD v

KIBWORTH

Winning draw to Thorpe

THORPE'S first team went on a run spree at Kibworth and produced a good all-round performance.

Phil James top scored with 54, but everyone contributed as they posted 236-8 to claim maximum batting points.

In reply, Kibworth never really attempted to go for the runs, finishing on 169-8.

Barry Lecoyte became the first Thorpe player this season to take five wickets as he claimed 5-43.

Thorpe Arnold: J. Sharpe 15, P. Humphreys 41, N. Pell 15, P. James 54, B. Lecoyte 16, A. Keightley 9, J. Collington 23, P. Stimson 9, C. Shulka 20*, C. Waldron 7*. Extras 27. Total: 236-8.

Kibworth: P. Morgan 26, S. Patel 14, D. Pedley 6, S. Matthew 11, D. Patel 24, K. Riley 0, D. Pounds 1, D. Broughton 33*, J. Cobb 0, K. Patel 26*. Extras 37. Total: 169-8.

Bowling: B. Lecoyte 17-3-43-5, P. James 14-3-55-2, C. Shulka 4-0-30-0, Singh Hage 8-4-10-0, P. Stimpson 2-0-9-0.

Division Six

Cropston II v Barkby II

Barkby won by six wickets

Barkby's second string recorded another 24-point victory on a good wicket at Cropston.

The visitors won the toss and asked Cropston to bat first. Their start was a slow one due to agood opening spell from Terry Raven and Mark Skinner, and at drinks Cropston had reached 79-2.

The introduction of spinner Dave Viedal had the same effect as the previous week.

This time he finished with figures of 7-38 from 9.4 overs as Cropston were all out inside 41 overs for 155.

Barkby's response was very different from their last game as 12 runs came from the first over.

And Cropston chins were soon on the floor as Andy Naylor kept the run-rate up at around eight an over.

Although Kelvin Fowler lost his leg stump early on, Naylor (66) received good support from Nick Eames, who scored 34.

Having lost both batsmen quickly, it was left to Alex Craven (12 not out) and Billy Putters (18 not out) to see Barkby home in just 25.4 overs.

Cropston: 155 all out.

Bowling: M. Skinner 10-3-30-1, T. Raven 7-3-19-0, Botting 7-1-37-1, D. Viedal 9.4-3-38-7, Flowers 6-1-18-1.

Barkby: K. Fowler 8, A. Naylor 66, N. Eames 34, S. Flowers 3, A. Craven 12*, B. Putters 18*. Extras 27. Total: 158-4.

LOUGHBOROUGH COB II v EGERTON PARK II

Losing draw to Park

Park's winning run came to an end, but they still remain unbeaten following a closely contested draw at Loughborough.

Carillon were asked to bat, and fell short of maximum batting points by one run as their innings closed on 199-6.

Ben Day took three wickets in his 18-over spell, while Andy Barnard produced another of his miserly opening spells.

In reply, Eddie Cham and Mark Hoggan put on 21 for the first wicket before the latter was bowled for 11.

Stuart Pick looked in tremendous form before he was unfortunately run out for 19, and Willie Murdoch scored 14, all in boundaries before being caught with the score on 66-3 after 20 overs.

Ben Day (21) shared a fourth wicket partnership with Cham of 47 before two wickets fell at 113, Cham run out and Day bowled.

Chris Jeary (28) and David Glover (19) added 41 for the sixth wicket in five overs to put Park back in the match.

Barney Simons and Andy Barnard's unbroken eighth wicket partnership almost gave Park victory, but with 13 required from the last over, and the majority of the fielders on the boundary, the task was just too great.

Loughborough COB: 199-6.

Bowling: E. Jackson 10-1-40-0, A. Barnard 9-4-22-0, B. Day, 18-3-72-3, B. Simons 4-0-30-1, D. Glover 4-0-26-0.

Egerton Park: E. Cham 41, M. Hoggan 11, S. Pick 19, W. Murdoch 14, B. Day 21, C. Jeary 28, D. Glover 19, B. Simons 17*, A. Barnard 9*. Extras 14. Total: 193-7.

THORPE ARNOLD v

NARBOROUGH

Narborough won by six wickets

THORPE'S second team lost their unbeaten record against Narborough and Littlethorpe.

Losing the toss and being put into bat, a slow start put lower order batsmen under pressure.

However, they responded well, and youngster Lewis Humphreys, playing his first senior game for the second team, hit a very impressive 38, timing the ball far better than the experienced Richard Burton and Darren Mulholland, although they both scored well against some tight bowling to post a total of 172-7.

Narborough's innings progressed steadily, but they lost wickets to give Thorpe a glimmer of hope.

However, opener Julian rode his luck (being dropped five times) and guided them to victory in the 39th over.

Thorpe Arnold: A. McQuillan 11, B. Draper 5, L. Humphreys 38, R. Burton 47, D. Mulholland 38, R. Draper 0, M. Lane 20*, K. Thorpe 3, S. Russell 4*. Extras 6. Total: 172-7.

Bowling: P. Warrington 12-1-58-2, C. Hall 7-1-23-0, P. Thompson 10-3-15-2, R. Wilson 7-0-25-0, R. Wakeling 5-0-23-0, A. Jackson 5-0-24-2.

Narborough: Julian 75*, Young 9, E. Crouch 2, M. Dunn 2, A. Jackson 9, K. Dunkley 43*. Extras 34. Total 174 for 4.

Bowling: K. Thorpe 8-0-37-1, M. Lane 12-1-18-1, T. Morgan 8-3-25-1, J. Gant 7-1-20-1, D. Mulholland 1-0-10-0, L. Humphreys 2-0-6-0, R. Draper 0.5-0-8-0.