Local Cricket: Skinner's heroics not enough for Barkby in County Cup

Barkby United seam bowler Keith Skinner took four wickets in one over in a County Cup quarter-final – but still finished on the losing side.

Skinner's heroics could not prevent Loughborough Town landing a 58-run victory.

Barkby skipper Craig Hendry

Visitors Loughborough, of the Everards League Premier Division, totalled 175 before they were all out off the final ball of their 40-over allocation against their Division One hosts.

For some time, it looked as though they would score more than that.

Robert Cook led the way with 71, James Bull hit 37 and Kyle Saddington made 31 as they reached 167-4.

But, as they tried to accelerate in the closing overs, wickets started to fall.

Skinner was twice on a hat-trick but he had to settle for four wickets in one over on his way to figures of 5-45 off eight overs.

Barkby skipper Craig Hendry took 2-29.

The Barkby reply never really got off the ground, with the notable exception of Tom Flowers's innings.

Flowers, batting at No.3, hit eight fours off 78 deliveries on his way to 62 not out.

But only one other batsman reached double figures and Flowers ran out of partners as Barkby were bowled out for 117 in the 33rd over.

Ollie Freckingham took 3-30 and there were two wickets apiece for Raoul Sharma, Cook and Saddington.

Loughborough's reward is a home tie against Sileby in an all-Premier Division semi-final.

In the other last-four clash, top-flight Market Harborough will host Division Two side Cropston.

The matches are scheduled for Sunday, August 8 (1.30). However, the Loughborough-Sileby match may be put back one week if Loughborough are still in the national club championship.

They are at home to South Northumberland on Sunday and, if they win that tie, they will host West Indian Cavaliers or Northern in the national quarter-finals on August 8.

Loughborough Town and Cropston are in semi-final action next week in the Loughborough Charity Cup.

They clash in a semi-final at Park Road on Monday and Tuesday (6.30). The winners will take on Shepshed Town in the Park Road final on Sunday, September 5.