Super Sulaiman smashes record 130 as Horspath topple leaders

OPENER Sulaiman Hussain hammered a club record 130 in the Home Counties Premier League as Horspath posted their first win of the season with an emphatic 74-run victory at home to Division 2 leaders Amersham.

Horspath celebrate a wicket: Pictures: Rob Judges

Hussain survived two early chances before going on to dominate the innings with his knock featuring some mighty blows to take Horspath to 211-8 off their 50 overs after they had elected to bat. 

His 162-ball stay included ten fours and six sixes as he set the club's highest individual score in the league, eclipsing Robbie Eason's 126 not out at home to Buckingham Town in August 2016. 

Horspath were precariously placed at 42-3, but Hussain held firm against an accurate Amersham attack, and reached his half-century with a single through extra cover off Michael Payne in the 22nd over. 

Will Eason, Will Hawtin and Dom O'Connor in the slips

The powerful left-hander was then joined by Jehan Mohammed (23) in an important sixth-wicket stand of 64 as Horspath reached 154-5. Hussain brought up his maiden league century with a single through cover off Payne in the 44th over, with his hundred coming off 149 balls. 

He really cut loose then with three successive sixes - one off Stanley Walsh and two off Maduka Liyanapathiranage - with the third one over long off down towards the nets taking him to the record in style.

His stunning innings finally came to an end when he was caught by Andrew Viney at cover off Stuart Rogers from the first delivery of the 49th over. Rogers returned Amersham's best figures with 3-33, while Liyanapathiranage picked up 2-44 and Payne's ten overs cost just 23. 

Patrick Foster takes a wicket during his spell of 4-24

Anupam Sanklecha then blew away Amersham's top order with a superb opening spell Bowling fast and straight, the Indian overseas star earned two lbw verdicts as well as producing a superb delivery to knock back skipper Andrew Viney's off stump as Amersham were reduced to 24-3. 

Patrick Foster then took over where Sanklecha left off by ripping out the middle order in an excellent spell of 4-24, including the wicket of top-scorer Jimi Chialoufas (27). By the time he had completed his ten overs, Amersham were in dire straits at 92-7. 

It was then left to skipper Lloyd Belcher (2-29) and fellow spinner Luke Heritage (1-26) to complete the job as Amersham were bowled out for 137 off 37.2 overs.

Posted by: Russ