Hat-trick hero steals unlikely Walsall win

Staffs Clubs League Division Two

Walsall YPF CC First XI (141) beat Church Eaton CC (137) by four runs

A FANTASTIC hat-trick from Rafaqat helped Walsall YPF claim a thrilling four-run victory over Church Eaton last weekend.

Eaton were cruising on 125-3 with nine overs left to get the 17 runs they required to surpass Walsall's earlier total of 141.

However, Rafaqat and Salim produced a devastating bowling spell with the former almost unplayable on what seemed to be a batting friendly wicket.

With five runs to get and three wickets remaining, Rafaqat took a hat-trick, clean bowling the final three batsmen, to ensure a dramatic victory for YPF.

Walsall had earlier batted with a great deal of control to reach 110-3 from 30 overs with Zahid Shah (37), Salim Khan (27) and Akib (22) contributing with the bat.

But during the second half of the innings, YPF lost their way as their final six wickets fell for just 31 runs.

Eaton began strongly in reply with captain White contributing a well-crafted 40 and ably backed by his top order batsmen but the lower order could do little to contain Rafaqat.

Walsall will hope to build on this win at home against Wolverhampton Danes this weekend.