Shah leads Storm home

On Friday, Storm took on Lightning at Luton Town & Indians CC.

Storm elected to bat after winning the toss and totalled 141 all out from 19.4 overs.

Akash Shah hit 55 while Kalim Khan (17) and Kashif Bhatti (17 not out) all contributed.

Lightning’s bowlers stuck to their task with Hasnat Choudrary (4-23), Faheem Zafar (2-13) and Umar (2-28) all picking up wickets.

In reply, Lightning couldn’t quite keep up with the run-rate as they were restricted to 116-9.

Wicket-keeper Shah took three catches to earn the man-of-the-match award after his earlier half century, while Ammad Saeed picked up 3-20, Kalim Khan took 1-14 and Kamal Patel claimed 2-11.

For Lightning, Harmain Hasif hit 20, while Choudrary made 16, E Zafar, 14, and Hassa, 22, but they were beaten by 25 runs.

The next match between Storm and Hurricane will take place tomorrow (Friday) at the same venue.

The successful Luton team will go forward to play a Leicester side in Leicester on Monday, August 27.

The winners will play the Wisden Cup Final at Grace Road, Leicester on Sunday, September 16.

That match will be followed by Wisden City Cup XI versus the MCC Young Cricketers, under the watchful eye of head coach Mark Alleyne, himself a former England One Day international.

David Mercer, director of cricket at Bedfordshire Cricket, said: “The Wisden City Cup is an initiative that aims to increase the popularity of cricket in inner-city communities.

“It is a great opportunity for the talent of Luton to show itself and to unearth more cricketers like Monty Panesar.”