Luke hat-trick rips apart New Rover

Illingworth made it three wins on the bounce as they defeated New Rover by 56 runs at  Jammy Green. Reduced to 38 overs a side due to early rain, Illingworth were put into bat on a damp wicket, and soon found themselves in trouble at 38 for 3. This brought Veryan Brooksby and Alex Ledger together, and they proceeded to put on 72 at nearly 6 an over to give the initiative back to Illingworth. Brooksby finally perished for a knock of 54, which included three huge 6s and six hard hit boundaries.

Ledger pushed on, and with captain Luke Brooksby, took the total towards 185, before he was dismissed for 44. Brooksby made 48 off only 32 balls to leave Illingworth on a more than competitive 193 off 38 overs.

Illingworth didn't have to wait long for a breakthrough in the second innings, with Moorhouse trapping Hamzaq Mir leg before wicket with the score on 7. Moorhouse made it two down by picking up another LBW wicket with Kamstra being sent back. Dangerman Michael Richmond was still in, but after tight bowling from Aussie Matthew Battle and Moorhouse, a bowling change brought Ledger on, who clean bowled Richmond for 20. Aussie Peterson soon followed and the game was in the balance at 70 for 4.

After Moorhouse finished his spell of 2 for 35 off 11 overs, skipper Luke Brooksby proceeded to take a hat-trick, that included two LBWs and a clean bowled, to leave New Rover in tatters at 81 for 7. Big hitting Thurston soon followed, with Ledger removing Kimber an over later. Paceman Battle was brought back on to finish the job and duly obliged, with New Rover falling 56 runs short of the target. Luke Brooksby finished with 4 for 34 and Ledger finished with 3 for 21.