NLCC hosted Horsforth Hall-Park on a pleasant Sunday Afternoon, the same thing cannot be said about the day before however as all apart from one match was completed, Colton vs Beckwithshaw. H.Ahmad won the toss and elected to bat. J.Heath and A.Ralphs strolled to the middle; R.Phillips opened up for Hall-Park and struck immediately in his first over. John going for a maximum over extra cover off a delivery with width was dismissed for no score; J.Wallace stood up behind the stumps took a good grab. 0-1 and J.Mason was next in. F.Rowden then struck from the other end a couple of overs later to dismiss Archie for 3, his full delivery produced an inside edge which went onto middle, 12-2 and Leeds in some slight trouble. K.Kapote was in next and he got off the mark with a handy edge through slip for 4.Unfortunately Tij was dismissed on 8 a short time later by a nip backer which hit middle, S.Woodley picking up his first, 21-3.J.Taylor in at 5, he struck a sweet couple of fours for his first two scoring shots to get the scoreboard ticking. With the score on 35 Jack was then out for 10 as S.Woodley grabbed a second. Slightly poking at the ball outside off saw the ball travel to gully where K.Phillips completed the catch.

C.Sutton next in , like a few of his teammates this innings he got off the mark with a boundary 4.The pair patiently added 15 runs before Charlie was dismissed for 5 as J.Phillips got himself a wicket. The batsmen adjusted his shot which saw the ball caught by J.Primmer at midwicket.50-5 now and Leeds in the pit. In walked the Skipper H.Ahmad. He unfortunately didn’t trouble the scorers as he was run-out for no score. The ball was struck sweetly to extra cover as he set off for a run; he turned back and was deemed a touch short. Most from the sidelines thought he was in. S.Irving came to the crease at 58-6.He supported Jonny well as the former struck a few more lusty blows to the rope. Sam then struck a four with an elegant guide through point. With the score on 73 J.Primmer into the attack got a wicket, Sam was leg before wicket for a gritty 6.D.Ralphs then nicked off first ball as J.Wallace got another catch behind the stumps to give J.Primmer 2 in 2.Jonny at this point was on 23 and begun to tee off in a sensible manner.
Johnny moved into the 30’s with A. Mohammed with him at the wicket. Ali struck one over the top for four as the pair brought up the highest partnership of the innings of 21.S.Abbott then struck for Hallpark as Ali was bowled with the score on 94.The innings was ended as Jonny pulled a full toss to S.Woodley on the square leg fence in front of the clubhouse to give J.Primmer his third. A fine 37 had come to an end never the less as Leeds were bowled out for (Police non-emergency) 101.Hall-park in the box seat as the players headed to tea.

It would require some quick strikes to have any chance of restricting the opposition to below the target as H.Ahmad and K.Kapote opened the bowling .It was Tij who got the breakthrough, B.Abbot bowled for 9, 17-1 after 8.J.Phillips in at number 3,was fortunate to survive a very loud leg before appeal first ball. Both batsmen ticked the score over slowly as Leeds produced some very tight bowling. The introduction of J.Taylor from the scorebox end got Leeds their second wicket straight away. C.Feller bowled for a 22 off 46 deliveries. 40-2 after 16 now as Leeds looked to push for more wickets.
C.Sutton unfortunately tweaked a back muscle which saw his spell end after 4 overs. Jonny pocketed his second of the day in the 24th over to dismiss the keeper J.Wallace for a 30 ball 7.His delivery had a lot of zip, the batsmen trying to break the shackles went for a big one down the ground, it resulted in a top edge which went a mile in the air, J.Mason steadied himself under it at cover and sealed a super catch reverse cup above his head. 66-3 now as S.Woodley arrived at the middle. He was more than prepared to play his shots as he broke free with a maximum down the ground.

83-3 after 28 and Z.Khan was brought on from the Old Park Road End. He struck with his first ball to remove S.Woodley for 12; the delivery was flicked to the perfectly placed K.Kapote on the square leg fence who took a solid catch. Ziad then followed it up a couple of balls later by clean bowling R.Phillips for a first ball duck, A big in-swinger coming down the hill to knock back middle. It got even better for NLCC as A.Ralphs produced a wicket maiden in his first over, F.Rowden swiftly stumped by D.Ralphs behind the stumps for 1.87-6 now and Leeds not going down without a fight. Hall-Park then hit the panic button with the score on 94, J.Phillips guided a delivery down to short third-man, the non-striker set off immediately, he was turned back halfway down, and Sam threw the ball to Ziad who was at his follow through position from which he hit bulls-eye to see the batsmen K.Woodley dismissed for 0.

J.Phillips eased the nerves as he struck a glorious cover drive to the fence, Ziad produced a jaffar for a response which produced an inside edge which nearly smashed into leg pole! The game was finished off by J.Phillips in 32.4 overs as he who struck another solid cover drive to the rope to remain unbeaten on 38 , a fine innings by him given the situation as he battled well for his runs.

So defeat for Leeds putting their current standings this season to 8 Wins and 2 Losses. Not much needs to be said as the batting simply didn’t click today, credit to Hall-Park for the way they bowled and to Leeds for the way they stuck at it in the field. Next up is a trip to Horsforth where a win would keep us in the title race