Langford’s hat-trick is in vain as Pinchbeck lose at Baston

A hat-trick from James Langford and a swift five-wicket haul for Nick Crook couldn’t stop Pinchbeck suffering a 12-run defeat at Baston in South Lincs and Border League Division Two on Saturday.

On a slow, low wicket offering plenty for the bowlers, Pinchbeck won the toss and would have felt the hard work was done when they dismissed their opponents for 82. But the batsmen then perished in similar fashion to the hosts as Adam Hilless (5-34) and Liam Davies (4-26) bowled Baston to victory.

The match started dramatically in favour of Pinchbeck with Langford snaffling a hat-trick in only the third over to reduce the score to 5-3.

After Richardson played onto his stumps, Malton and Hilless both fell victim to the slow pitch first ball and looped up simple catches to leave Langford delighted. It was an ironic feat for the seamer, who also picked up a hat-trick in the second game of last season.

Morris began to repair the damage and notched up the highest score of the day before becoming Langford’s fourth wicket when he was bowled for 28. Davies and Lamin then sensibly carried the score to 60-4, but the introduction of Crook reaped instant rewards for Pinchbeck and he ripped through Baston’s lower order with a devastating five-wicket haul costing just five runs in four overs.

This ruined any hopes Baston had of amassing a total of over three figures – and in the 30th over they were bowled out for 82.

With an opportunity to reverse fortunes, Hilless and Davies applied early pressure on the visitors’ batsmen picking up three early wickets with just 15 runs on the board.

Despite this wobble, Pinchbeck would still have been hopeful of victory as Crook and Richard Riley settled the innings down with a stand of 21. However, with Riley trapped LBW by Davies the game then effectively swung in the next over with the freak dismissal of Crook, who drove a rare half volley straight out of the middle – only to see the ball ricochet off the silly mid-off fielder and loop straight into the hands of Hilless.

Spurred on by that moment, the home side made further strides to the finish line and at 41-7 Pinchbeck were reeling.

Glen Hammond threatened to spoil things for Baston with a quickfire 18 but when he became Hilless’ fifth victim, the home side closed out the game. John Lamin sealed it, trapping Langford LBW with Pinchbeck on 7