Teenage Emley cricket star snaps up a double hat-trick - and still loses

Jun 5 2009 By David Lockwood

"I’m very much a bowler, batting at number 11 - but I was the only not-out player in the game against Cumberworth, scoring 2.

"I finished with 7-13. It was my best performance by a long way. Prior to that my best in a game was two wickets.

"My team-mates were probably more excited than me".

Coaches Simon Morley and David Stafford were enthralled by his performance.

Simon said: "It is my first season and it was wonderful bowling. We usually put Ike on at the death and he is more than useful, bowling line and length.

"He has helped us to reach joint top of the league table.

"We have had players like Matthew Wood (Yorkshire) and Alan Walker (Durham) come through the junior ranks at Emley but I have never seen anything like Ike’s double hat-trick.

"By any standard in the sport, it was remarkable".

But sadly for Ike, his performance could not be repeated for the Examiner - he missed the wickets with every ball he sent down for the benefit of our photographer.