Littleborough won the toss on a fine but cold day and decided to bat in this ECB National Club Knock Out 1st Round match. Umer Yaqoob struck early, trapping Matthew Heron first ball, but then Clinton Perrin with opener Alex Willis took the total to 75 before Willis lofted Xander Selby to Nathan Jones for 32. Joe Smith Butler soon fell to Selby before Travis Townsend joined Perrin to compile the major stand of the innings. Townsend scored a brisk 62 off 42 balls (9 4’s and 3 6's) and Perrin continued to make a solid 92 (14 4's and 1 6). Perrin was bowled by Muhammad Shakir with the total on 222 for 5 with over 4 overs of the innings to go. However Shakir ( 4 for 32) and Yaqoob (4 for 33) wrapped up the tail with Littleborough posting a target of 229.
Delph’s reply suffered an early blow when prolific opener Mosun Hussain was snaffled by Townsend with a smart return catch for 11. Alex Peters joined Nathan Jones and Delph’s reply gathered momentum. With the total on 47 Jones tried to sneak a second run on a misfield and was narrowly run out for 23. New skipper Louis Aspeling joined Peters and the pair took the total to 136 before Peters holed out for a very well made 64 off 62 balls ( 10 4’s and 2 6's). Luke Hargreaves made a brisk 18 before being adjudged lbw, but on his dismissal the innings lost a bit of momentum and when Aspeling was run out for a stylish 51 (5 4's and a 6) Delph's backs were against the wall. Gary Nash was the main Littleborough wicket taker (4 for 36) and he helped wrap up the innings with Delph reaching 213 all out in the last over.
Littleborough, therefore pregressed to the 2nd Round.
