Landa's maiden half-century helps extend Hucknall's unbeaten run

A winning draw againast relegation-threatened Attenborough means that three points from their final match of the season will guarantee fifth place.

After losing the toss, Hucknall also lost opener George Buckthorpe when he edged the first ball of the match to slip.

Number three Robin Maxwell hit three fours off the remainder of the first over to launch a crucial second-wicket partnership with Vinay Landa.

The pair added more than 100 off 138 balls to give Hucknall the initiative.

After a slow start Landa opened up, hitting two sixes. The opener was fortunate when a couple of shots fell short of fielders, but he reached his first New Gatehouse Premier League half-century off 69 balls.

The partnership was broken when Maxwell, on 39, tried hit over long-on but pulled the ball towards deep, straight mid-wicket, where Ben Bhabra took a good catch.

Landa also fell looking to hit over the top after making a fine 65 off 84 balls.

The Hucknall middle-order built on the good start with Geoff Dods and Scott Harris adding 20 and 30 respectively.

The difference between a decent total and an imposing one was provided by Richard Greatorex and Suhail Ahmed, who then added 83 for the sixth wicket in good time.

Their 50 partnership came off 49 balls before, with the last few overs approaching, Ahmed was caught for 34 off 27 balls, including three sixes.

Greatorex went to his second half-century of the season off 54 balls and was plundering the visitors’ attack when he was run out for 66 off 61 balls.

He also struck three sixes and with 86 runs coming off the last 10 overs Hucknall closed on 274 for seven.

Any thoughts Attenborough had of chasing down their target were soon dashed by Dods, who removed both openers.

Burhan Alam was caught at short fine-leg by Harry Finch and Craig Heiden was caught in the ring by Greatorex.

When Ahmed replaced Dods and had overseas batsman Byron Haycock caught for three, Attenborough were 44 for three.

Chris Allcoat and Steve Allcoat rebuilt the visitors’ reply to 90 before Adam Scott trapped Steve Allcoat lbw with his first ball for 13.

At the other end Finch, bowling for the first time in the Premier League and for the first time in several months, appeared to have shaken off previous no-ball and wide issues.

He bowled nine overs of left-arm pace for 36 and did not concede an extra.

Chris Allcoat and Dominic Harvey put on 69 for Attenborough’s fifth wicket before Joel Wright, who has been given the chance to bowl more overs recently in the absence of injured Josh Buckley, returned to the attack to grab two wickets.

He bowled Harvey for 28 and then had Bhabra lbw.

Allcoat reached an excellent 94 and was in sight of his first Premier League when he was given out, caught behind, off Scott at 189 for seven.

Attenborough’s chance of a win looked to have gone, but they grabbed vital batting points in their relegation fight and hung on for a losing draw at 205 for seven after Jack Harrison hit a six in the final over.

Dods, Wright and Scott all finished with two wickets for Hucknall.