Hat-trick hero Mo

Freiston LL 163, Heckington 51 - Freiston won by 112 runs.

Abdul Moeed took a hat-trick in his man of the match performance as Freiston started their league season in victorious style.

Moeed made a workmanlike 35 as Freiston amassed 163 off their 45 overs.

The spinner then claimed six wickets, including a memorable hat trick, as Heckington were bowled out for 51.

Freiston were put into bat on a pitch which always offered enough assistance to the bowlers.

Opening pair Richard Paul and Waseem Ilyas saw off the opening bowlers as they put on 57 for the first wicket.

Paul made 15 before being caught at mid on.

Ilyas, who had taken the more aggressive approach made 43 before becoming the first of Tunnicliffe’s five wickets.

After the strong opening partnership, Freiston lost wickets at regular intervals, and weren’t able to push on as they would have wanted.

They were thwarted by a five-wicket haul from opposing captain Tunnicliffe.

However, Moeed batted patiently to make 35 and he did receive support from Sunil Panjwani (15) and Ashok Kumar (13).

Last pair Ollie Booth (18*) and Tommy Atkinson added 24 to ensure Freiston claimed the third batting bonus point.

With a damp outfield making it unsuitable to bowl quick bowlers from one end, Freiston were forced to open the bowling with seamer Taimur Mian and the off spin of Moeed.

Both bowlers claimed a wicket in their second overs.

Moeed took his second wicket when Sharpe was caught at square leg by Stewart Kirtley.

Mian claimed two more wickets in his sixth over as he finished with impressive figures of 3-12.

Moeed’s hat-trick began as Carter was caught by Kumar for five, before clean bowling Pickwell and having Glendening stumped by Zeeshan Saeed as the youngster dragged his back foot out of the crease.

Only Charlesworth gave any resistence as he struck 31.

The left hander was last man out as he was caught by Ilyas in the deep, as Heckington were bowled out for 51.