Lea Park’s 317-run record win

Lea Park 345 for 4

Thoresby Park 28 all out

Lea Park won by a record margin of 317 runs on Saturday.

Batting, they amassed 345 for 5, thanks largely to another superb opening partnership between Chris Needham (125) and Lee Mardle, who put on 184 in very quick time.

Once again good running and shot selection was the feature of this stand and when Mardle played on for 74, Andy Dewick joined Needham to keep the runs flowing with a quick fire 54.

Andy Orton (36) and Andy Whitely (24 not out) rounded off a superb first half for Lea.

Thorseby were up against it from the off and with Andy Dewick picking up 3 for 14 from one end, Andy Slater claimed 5 for 13 as both bowlers bowled with ruthless discipline to wrap up a professional display inside 14-overs.

One of the forgotten features of Lea’s season so far has to be Mardle’s excellent form behind the stumps as he claimed another two victims.

Whilst improving game by game, keeping your cool when on a hat trick has to be Slater’s next task.

Having clean bowled his first victim and getting the next caught behind, he manoeuvred his fielders into close catching positions only to fire his next delivery wide of first slip, for five wides.

This was followed up with a leg side long hop which was put away for four so the context of his bowling was that he conceded 13 runs in seven overs, nine of which came from one legitimate delivery.

As well as setting up victory with Lea’s first wicket, Slater fittingly rounded off the game with the last, thanks to Andy Whiteley’s brilliance at point where he rolled back the years to leap like a salmon and pouch a difficult chance.