8/9 August

 

Shireshead & Forton  165/5  Warton  125/8

The Warton juggernaut hit an obstacle in its pursuit of a second championship in three years when it encountered a tenacious performance by Shireshead on Saturday.  Batting first, the home side were indebted to the class of Colin Twiname who made 78 from 146 balls, including ten 4s and a 6.  He added 41 in 16 overs with Tom Jacques (18) as the opening pair blunted the threat of James Rafferty (1/39) and Paul Simpson (0/37) who both made the ball swing.  A big in-swinger from Simon Gould (1/19) made the breakthrough, but Paul Yates with 42 not out from 70 balls made sure that the early advantage was not squandered.  The two left-handers added 108 in 25 overs, being particular severe on the bowling of Graham Crowther  (2/41) who was unusually off colour, although the all-rounder in his second spell accounted for Twiname and Phil Oliver in consecutive balls as Warton restricted Shireshead to 24 from the final 5 overs.

Phil Bovis (15) survived a confident lbw shout from Phil Savage (2/30), before striking a four through the covers and hitting Dave Jack’s first ball for six.  Savage and Jack built up pressure with maidens before Jack (1/47) produced a beauty to dismiss Bovis.  Full and straight and swinging in, the ball beat the former Kent Cricket Board man’s defensive push for pace and bent back his middle stump.  If Jack can repeat this ball to Stuart Law on Sunday it will be interesting to see if the great Australian batsman can survive it.   Savage dismissed James Rafferty (3), but Gould  (39) decided to counterattack.  Ricky Nelson (7) having survived one chance was caught behind by Tim Mansfield in Phil Oliver’s (2/22) second over, and Crowther (1) fell  to a magnificent catch at silly mid-on by Ray Riley.  Gould and David Robinson (6) took the score to 74 in the 25th over when Alan Moulsdale’s loosener was pummelled behind square by Gould.  Miraculously Riley, fielding at backward square leg, took off like a cat and emerged with the ball triumphantly clutched in his fist.  If his first catch had been magnificent it is difficult to find the superlatives worthy of describing the second one.  Suffice to say that had the Sky cameras captured it then it would have been shown repeatedly.  Nonetheless it will live long in the memory of all who witnessed it.  Robinson fell lbw to Oliver and Rory Batson (1) to Moulsdale (2/17) leaving the visitors 78/7 after 29 overs.  Nick Rafferty (16) dug in for the draw, and after Sayer (6) was run out he found an ally in Simpson (24 not out).  Although Rafferty was finally lbw to Tom Jacques (1/3) having faced 55 balls, Brown and Simpson were able to deliver the visitors two points.  CLICK FOR FULL SET OF PHOTOS

Oversands Trophy Final

Westgate 177/5  Shireshead & Forton 138/8 CLICK FOR PHOTOS

Westgate triumphed in the First Division Cup Final when Shireshead were unable to produce a performance of the same intensity as the previous day.  Losing the toss Shireshead were forced to field first and were disappointed when Peter Wilson (35) edged Phil Savage (0/35) for two 4s in the first over as Westgate got off to a flying start.  Wilson quickly found his feet and with support from Rodger Hill (10) added 53 in 9 overs before Phil Oliver took an athletic catch to remove Wilson from the bowling of Alan Moulsdale (1/24).  When Oliver’s first ball trapped Hill lbw two wickets had fallen in four balls and Shireshead had a chance.  David Lord (42) and man of the match Andy Hill (43) had other ideas adding 89 in 15 overs as Shireshead failed to capitalise.  Oliver’s second spell slowed the scoring dismissing the dangerous Danny Wilkinson (13) who had hit a big straight six and threatened to push the score towards 200.  Oliver’s 4/25 restricted Westgate to 177.

Shireshead needed a good start to threaten Westgate’s imposing total.  Wilson (1/20) and Matthew Lightfoot (1/18) shackled the early batsmen as only 31 came from the 10 powerplay overs,  the in-form Colin Twiname (7) being caught at midwicket.  Tom Jacques (21) was never at his fluent best and was lbw to Andy Hill (2/35), having been involved in a run out with brother Robbie that briefly threatened a repeat of the story of Romulus and Remus.   Phil Oliver made a powerful 32 from 28 balls, hitting two 4s and a 6, but when he was bowled by Hill, 99 were needed from 10 overs.   Ray Riley with a run a ball 33 not out provided the crowd with some late entertainment, but never threatened to win the game.   Danny Wilkinson took 1/24 and Gary Tattersall 1/34.  Thanks are due to the umpires Stephen Lamley and Howard Bicknell, the scorers, the Milnthorpe club for hosting the match and providing a splendiferous tea and finally Trophy sponsors, Oversands Travel. 

Bolton-le-Sands 198 for 8 Shireshead A  90 all out

The league leaders Bolton-le-Sands maintained their unbeaten record on Saturday with a comprehensive victory.

Having lost the toss and been inserted on a damp wicket and outfield. The home side were pinned back by the visitors young attack of Matt Jones (1/26) and Jack Kilshaw (2/40).M.Beaumont (64) batted aggressively and survived a dropped catch at mid off when on 24.He shared a fourth wicket partnership of 60 with Dave Derham (47) who was dropped at first slip early in his innings.Simon Moulson (1/34) trapped Derham LBW and Joy Arun (4/65) removed Beaumont, but the earlier missed chances proved costly.A.Dyson (44) continued the momentum and pushed Sands close to two hundred.

The Shireshead reply had a familiar look to it with only 28 on the board and five batsmen back in the pavillion.M.Sutcliffe (36) and Simon Moulson (17) dug in and shared a six wicket stand of 50.The introduction of J.Hill (3/8) broke the partnership by bowling Sutcliffe and then two overs later dismissing Moulson.A.Dyson (5/19) from eleven overs was unplayable at times, and took the last three wickets as the visitors were dismissed for 90. 

3rd team report — Skipper Tony Richmond won the toss and put his side in.  A disastrous start meant that five wickets fell for just 40 runs, three of which fell to Stuart Burrow (3/23), and all three batsmen scoring just 10.  Only young Alastair Jackson (15) looked at ease, stroking two stylish fours to the boundary, but then lobbed an easy catch to the close fielder, Simon Sowerby who also dismissed Richmond (5).

 

In reply, Andy Churton (16) and Stuart Mayor (27) took advantage of out-of-form Graham Rand and it was left to the young players to dismiss them. Jackson (1/5) clean bowled Churton and Oliver Yates (1/7) tempted Mayor into a lofted shot well taken by Jackson.  Trimpell reached their target in the 22nd over.