Syston Town 2nds Vs Melton Mowbray
Leicestershire & Rutland Division 3
Saturday 16th May 2015
Melton Win by 6 wickets
Melton Mowbray made the short trip to Syston on Saturday to take on their Second XI who had lost just once in their first four starts.Having won the toss and elected to field, opening bowler Karl Tew continued to have a big impact by removing the top three batsmen with just 30 runs on the board.Syston batsmen Pole (59) and Doughty (44) forged much-needed partnerships to take the score above 100 before Melton bowling changes brought more wickets.John Taylor removed both Pole and Doughty and took three more wickets in a spell of bowling which took the game away from the hosts.Three catches in his season debut for Tim Smallridge, and two wickets for in-form Phil James finished off Syston in the 43rd over for 166.
After the break, Melton started brightly with Gary Potter (52) hitting seven fours and a six as he chalked up another half-century.
Melton Mowbray First XI
Lee Freer, Ben Redwood, Karl Tew, Gaz Potter, Paul Stevenson, John Taylor; Spencer Handley, Phil James, Pete Humphries, Carl Parker, Daz Elliott.
Melton lost a couple of wickets, but a 46-run partnership between James and Potter set Melton up for the push to the target, and after 22 overs Melton were 78-4.
Coming in at five and six, John Taylor and Paul Stevenson started slowly, scoring just 10 runs from their first four overs before they picked up pace. They scored 50 runs in the next five overs and worked their way to victory without losing any more wickets.
Man-of-the-match Taylor smashed nine fours and five sixes for his 82 not out in a 14-over partnership to give Melton a well-deserved 25 points.
* On Saturday, Melton host Houghton and Thurnby Seconds.
Syston: 166.
Bowling: K. Tew 12–0-52-3; B. Redwood 6-0-21-0; P. James 12-0-30-2; J. Taylor 10.2-2-46-5.