Naik stars in winning draw

By Sam Chambers

Leicestershire's Jigar Naik and Tom Wells were both in fine form in the latest round of Everards Premier League matches.

Naik produced a fantastic all-round performance for second-placed Sileby, hitting a dazzling 107* (121b) before collecting three wickets (10-3-36-3) in their winning draw at neighbours Barrow.

Opener Luke Gale also cracked 76 as Sileby racked up a daunting 261-5 after being put in by the hosts, despite a three-wicket haul (10-1-32-3) for Naik's teammate Rob Sayer.

In response, Barrow dug in to reach 182-9, Sayer again making a useful contribution with 42.

Wells, meanwhile, was in typically free-scoring form for Loughborough Town in their seven-wicket victory at Market Harborough - but he fell agonisingly short of a ton of his own.

Loughborough won the toss and elected to field, reducing the home side to 163-7 from their 50 overs.

Kevin Innes (66) was the pick of the Harborough batsmen, while Sam Grant (3-36) and Leicestershire's Ollie Freckingham (2-30) shared the majority of the wickets.

With Wells blazing 97 from just 73 balls - aided by 45 from wicket-keeper Charlie Lowen - in response, the visitors were able to chase down their target of 164 in just 26 overs.

Leicestershire's James Sykes was another Fox to enjoy a fine day with both bat and ball, helping Lutterworth to a comprehensive 117-run win at home to Earl Shilton.

He top-scored for the Lutts with 56 as they made 186-8, before he and Darren Cader, with figures of 4-18 and 3-11 respectively, decimated the hosts' batting line-up to skittle them out for just 69.

Third-placed Syston Town claimed a winning draw as they hosted Leicester Ivanhoe.

Syston accumulated a huge total of 261-6 as former Academy batsman Charles Wootton hit a hundred but Ivanhoe, who were kept in check as former Academy all-rounder George Corbett took a haul of 4-23, put up stubborn resistance to reach 159-6 at the end of play.

Academy opener Sam Evans played a key role for Ivanhoe in scoring 55 while Jake Beaumont, who has played for Leicestershire Young Cricketers, also made a half-century as part of a second wicket partnership that reached three figures.

Kibworth continued their march towards a title retention with a clinical away success at Barkby United. They picked up a win by a ten-wicket margin to leave them 25 points clear of Sileby.

Opener Tom Flowers (62) helped Barkby to 196 all out, Tej Thakkar's 3-36 doing the main damage for the Kibworth attack.

In response, Kibworth skipper Matt Craven was in imperious form, smashing his way to an unbeaten 136 from 94 balls.

He was ably assisted by Pite Van Biljon's 50 as Kibworth romped to 200-0 from 32.3 overs.

Elsewhere, Rothley Park picked up a 53-run home win over Hinckley Town. Hamzah Khan (67*) and Phil Hackett helped Rothley post 211-7 and Hinckley were dismissed for 158.