A nerve jangler at the Riverside (m.r 08/08/10)

After two straight defeats Gregson Lanes visit to the riverside was a must win for the home team. But once again with a weakened side it would be a tough ask to knock over Greggy Lane. We were without our top scorer in the last two weeks Eddie Steinson, Gaskell and without a recognised wicketkeeper as Pilks (work) and Mansfield (holiday) were absent.

The weather was alright for the start of the game, quite sunny and warm seen as the week had been a cold and rainy one but the pitch also looked good and after deciding we are a better defending team than chasing team the verdict would be to bat first, if the toss was won.

Wilson once again went out to the middle to toss, after going 2 in 2. He made it 3 wins in 3 and BAC were to bat first in conditions that looked ok for both batting and bowling.

Sol and Dougie strode out to the middle to open up and got off to a slow start going at 1 per over. 7 overs in Sol was caught LBW for 0 by the Lanes first team opener Woods, the duck matching Richard Aspinall and Willows record 20 ball ducks. Jack Wilson was next man in and didn’t last long being bowled for 0 and leaving BAC 10 for 2. The situation then got worse as leading run scorer Doug the Jug fell for 12 and BAC were 14-3. Zed/Zorro/Zally and Willow/Twilly/Tim were now occupying the crease trying to mount some kind of comeback. It wasn’t pretty with both players grinding out ones, twos and the odd four but they managed to get the score to 41 before the Zedster was bowled for 13 by the 12 foot tall giant Simpson. Scott the hitman Hammil then joined Wilson and they started to put a partnership together until Wilson also fell to the BFG Simpson caught and bowled for a patient 18. Youngster Tingle/Rooney and Poshboy/Hammil both played very well showing maturity above their age and both making 14 before falling to Rob Woods’ unorthodox (to say the least) action. The last 3 wickets then fell pretty quickly with Zack Effron making 2, Hollinhurst 0, MC Cammy 5 and Chadders 8. But the tail did take us beyond 90 to get us a point if what seemed an inevitable 3^rd straight defeat did come about.

With 93 to win Osborn and Woodman opened up for the visitors and were greeted by the hostile Merve Hughes esq Hollinhurst and veteran MC Cameron. Hollinhurst struck first bowling Osborn with a “beauty” of a slower ball and then Cam got Woodman trapped LBW both for 1. A brilliant start for the home side but number 3 Rooney batted patiently and started to accumulate runs for the Lane. Hothersall soon came on after a brilliant 6 over burst by Hughes/Holiday highlights Hollinhurst and struck early, Rooney smashing the ball back at him and he could only parry the catch onto the stumps to run out the non striker Pegg for 1, a strange dismissal but one putting the visitors 10-3 and in real trouble. Captain Woods then came out and only lasted 2 balls with his shiney new kit being bowled with a beauty by MC Cammy, nipping back in and hitting middle stump. 14-4 and Wilson came on to replace Cam. Hothersall and Wilson bowled in tandem for a while not able to get the ball past Rooney or Murray-Davidson until a big off-cutter by Willow succeeded in making Andy Murray play a tennis shot to Zack Effron at midwicket who held on. The spin twins Zed (leggers) and Chadders (arm balls) came into the attack and Zed got the prize wicket of the handy Rooney for 31, a valuable wicket as he seemed to be taking the game away from BAC. Zed then got a second, trapping Mollart LBW for 3. Chadders also got himself a wicket with a beauty, reminiscent of Graham Swann turning in beating the bat and hitting top of off. BAC seemed to be on the verge of a terrific win but Simpson started to bludgeon the ball to all parts of the ground, worrying the captains Hothersall came back on and did for Simpson getting him for 19. 75-9 and it seemed a done deal but a very capable left hander in Phillip Woods was at the crease and blocked and blocked then nicked the strike and did the same over and over edging the Lane closer to 93. Wilson then replaced Zed and as the total got to 84 bowled number 11 Monks middle stump with a Yorker to win the game.

A superb win for the thirds and a absolute nail biter for all watching and playing. Overall the batting was once again poor although 5 players got into double figures this week (Doug 12, Zed 13, Wilson 18, Hammil 14, Tingle 14) instead of just the one or two. But the bowling really won it for us with everyone taking a wicket or two and being backed up by some fine fielding. Andy picked up 1-3 off 6, Cammy 2-10 off 7 including the shiny pads captain for 0, Dougie 1-17 off 10 including a run out, Willow 2-7 off 7.2, Zed 2-25 off 10 and Chadders 1-18 off 4. A great bowling unit and match winning performances by all.

Moment of the game had to be the final wicket, the tension was getting unbearable and that ball just eased it all off, it was greeted with great celebration and gave us a well earned 12 points.

So next week is the Meyler cup final between Vernons and Whittingham & Goosnargh at the home of cricket, The Riverside. Hope you can all make it for what should be a great day, I know who I will be cheering for…

Viszlát!

Willow