STRIKE bowler Anupam Sanklecha produced his third consecutive five-wicket haul as Horspath recorded their fourth straight win in Home Counties Premier League Division 2 with a 75-run victory at home to Harefield.
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| Dom O'Connor hit 51. Photo: sportsshots.org.uk |
The Indian paceman returned impressive figures of 5-35, and with off-spinner Luke Heritage taking a league 4-11, Harefield were shot out for 114 in reply to the hosts' 189 after they were put in to bat.
The win saw Horspath move up to second place in the table, 25 points behind leaders Amersham.
Horspath were made to battle for runs with opener Dom O'Connor compiling a patient half-century. The left-hander hit 51 from 92 balls with seven fours to provide the backbone of the innings.
Sulaiman Hussain weighed in with a rapid 41 off 31 balls as the wickets were shared by Matthew Ogden (3-25) together with Jordan McLeod and Stephen Croft, who picked up 3-52 apiece.
Sanklecha was quick to make an impact in Harefield's innings with Will Shepherd edging his second ball into Will Hawtin's gloves. Will Eason won an lbw verdict against Ogden, before Sanklecha did likewise to remove Thomas McLeod and make it 35-3.
Skipper Stephen Croft and Lee Tyrrell took the score to 76 when the latter became Heritage's first victim for 20 courtesy of a Hawtin stumping. It sparked a dramatic collapse which saw the visitors' last seven wickets fall for 38 runs.
Sanklecha returned to bowl Karanpreet Singh and then he found the edge of William Hatton and Oliver Stalder's bats - with Elliot Ruff taking good low catches at second slip on both occasions - to complete another five-wicket haul following his 5-42 against Burnham and his 6-19 against Chesham.
Croft's resistance was finally ended when he fell lbw for 39 to Heritage, who wrapped up the innings by bowling Doug King and then having Jordan McLeod caught by Patrick Foster at leg slip.
Posted by: Russ