Louth CC: Taverners end Alford winning streak

Alford won the toss and on a beautiful, sunny day and a flat pitch had no hesitation in batting first.

Imran Cheema, however, struck in his first over, removing Lempard for a duck, and his in-swing bowling left Alford struggling on 59-4.

Jack Wightwick played some beautiful strokes and took the score to 105 when he was out to Khawar Naeem.

Wightwick top-scored with 48 and some late order hitting took the Alford score to 185-9 from their allocated 40 overs.

Cheema finished with impressive figures of 8-1-37-4 and Naeem bowled a tight spell of 8-0-18-2.

Louth started the chase with Keaton Critchell in aggressive mode. Opener Tom Law (1) fell with the score on 40 as Critchell made a quickfire 64 off only 30 balls, with five sixes and four boundaries.

He was finally bowled by Wightwick, and when Cheema and Zeeshan were out after a solid start, Louth were 138/4.

Alford took two more quick wickets to leave Louth at a precarious 149-6, but Henry Tye held his nerve, combining composure with aggression to keep the pressure on Alford’s bowlers.

Tye hit the winning runs with a delightful boundary to complete a well-deserved 50 off 41 balls, supported by Tom Ryder, and clinch a four-wicket win with 15 overs to spare.

Taverners travel to Brocklesby Park ion Sunday, looking to continue their good form and qualify for the finals of the cup.