Melton CC Second XI finish County League campaign in third after fine finish

Melton Mowbray Second XI ended the season in fine style as their seventh win in nine propelled them up to a third-place finish in Division Nine East.
The Ashby bowler beats Pete Humphries' bat as Melton First XI were defeated by the Division Three leaders EMN-180409-121007002The Ashby bowler beats Pete Humphries' bat as Melton First XI were defeated by the Division Three leaders EMN-180409-121007002
The Ashby bowler beats Pete Humphries' bat as Melton First XI were defeated by the Division Three leaders EMN-180409-121007002

It was a brilliant turnaround for Melton who had been in the relegation spaces halfway through the season after a run of six consecutive losses.

Melton won the toss at bottom side Fleckney and elected to field first on a worn and dusty pitch.

Karl Tew soon had the home team in trouble with three wickets after an excellent opening spell.

Smon Claricoats connects as he top-scores for Melton EMN-180409-121017002Smon Claricoats connects as he top-scores for Melton EMN-180409-121017002
Smon Claricoats connects as he top-scores for Melton EMN-180409-121017002

Fleckney never really got going and three wicket from Jamie Tew’s first over saw them slump to 80-7 after 22 overs.

A mini-revival from Rodgers (20) and Soqsa (17) took Fleckney to 113, but they lost their last three wickets without adding to the score as they subsided to a sub-par total in 32 overs.

In reply, Callum Hull and James Culy were both out before the 10th over, bringing Jamie Tew to the wicket.

He continued his excellent form by hitting a rapid 56 not out off 25 balls, including 26 runs off one over, as Melton raced to their target in just 16 overs.

Melton’s stand-out performers with the bat this season have been Jamie Tew, who has amassed 738 runs at an average of 246 including two fifties and 3 centuries, with a top score of 204 not out, while Trish Panchal finished with 316 runs at 35.11 with a fifty, one hundred and a top score of 127.

Under 15s player Callum Hull also came to the fore with 244 runs at 18.7, including two fifties and a top score of 58.

The wickets were shared around as 28 different bowlers were used over the course of the season.

Jim Eccles (5 for 40) and Panchal (5 for 23) had the best single-game figures.

* But Melton’s First XI fortunes failed to improve against Division Three leaders Ashby Hastings on Saturday.

Simon Claricoats hit 70 as the hosts made 196, but Ashby chased their target down with four wickets and four overs in hand.

Melton sit seventh, but remain just 30 points above the three relegation places with three matches to play.