***Shireshead will play Westgate in the final of the 1st Division cup at Milnthorpe Cricket ground on Sunday 9th August

July 11th & 12th

Shireshead & Forton  122  Westgate  84

Both sides were below full strength at Clifton Park on Saturday, Alan Moulsdale arriving at Westgate for the second team fixture only to be asked to travel down the A6 to play his second game of the season for the first team.

Batting first, Shireshead were troubled by Zac Buchanan who found drift and dip to reduce the home side to 4/2.  Colin Twiname (13) and Rob Jacques (37) rallied, Jacques striking the ball well in hitting seven 4s before he was caught by the athletic Buchanan from the bowling of Matthew Lightfoot (4/38).  The score was 76/4 when he departed and although Rob Charles (14), Mark Sutcliffe (7) and Tim Mansfield (9) tried to resist, the momentum was with Lightfoot and the mercurial Peter Wilson who took 4/30 from 22 overs.

Dave Hughes (9) began with the clear intention of repeating his attacking innings against Bare the previous week.  After Phil Oliver (2/15) removed Andy Hill (0) lbw to one that kept low, Dave Jack (3/33) bowled Hughes before removing Steve Creed (9) and Garry Tattersall (3), Tattersall’s off stump cartwheeling out of the ground leaving the middle and leg stumps together with bail intact.  Sadly the club photographer missed this snap.  When Oliver bowled Mo Patel (3) Westgate were reeling at 35/3 and their hopes rested with recent acquisition Suchit Desai (34) and Wilson (17) who, exhausted from his bowling efforts, had demoted himself down the order.  The pair added 43 in 17 circumspect overs, surviving a chance and several close lbw appeals, before Wilson’s edge to a Moulsdale (5/23) delivery, gratefully accepted by Mansfield, broke the partnership.  Westgate collapsed from 78/5 to 84 all out with Moulsdale taking 5/2 in 15 balls. 

On Sunday, as part of the centenary celebrations, the Shireshead club enjoyed an intraclub 15/15 competition. — CLICK FOR PHOTOS—  Like the veterans’ match against Garstang this was a highly successful day and sets the scene perfectly for the centrepiece of the celebrations.  On 16th August the club will host a match against the Professional Cricket Association Master’s XI.  The PCA have confirmed that their side will include at least five former internationals – England’s Ashes winner Phil DeFreitas, England fast bowler Devon Malcolm, former Australia international and Lancashire captain, Stuart Law, Australian World Cup winner Ian Harvey and New Zealand opener Lou Vincent who holds the NZ ODI highest score of 172.

Westgate 2nd XI  254 for 2 Shireshead 2nd XI 104 all out

Whilst the wickets were tumbling at Forton, the spectators at Cross Hill Park were treated to a run feast from the home side. 

The toss looked all the more important with the wicket positioned to the far right and thus a shortened boundary.  Winning the toss on a true dry track the home skipper Dave Hannigan had no hesitation but to bat first. The opening pair of Skipper Hannigan (90) and Sid Gani (95 n/o) started watchfully with 38 runs off the first eleven overs. With the partnership gaining momentum, 114 runs were scored from the next twenty overs, as the visitors' bowling was put to the sword. The partnership of 191 ended in the 36th over with the dismissal of Hannigan, bowled by Malcolm Taylor (2/52). Hannigan batted agressively hitting 13 fours and three sixes.

A second wicket stand of 62 in the remaining nine overs put Westgate in a commanding position. Khan Puffett (37) scored quickly but was unable to give Gani sufficent strike to complete his century. Gani timed the ball beautifully in his innings which included 8 fours and one maximum. Rahul Sabharwal (0/75) bowled with pace and accuracy but was unlucky to leave the field empty handed.

 The Shireshead reply fell apart with the alacrity of a Brown cabinet, losing the first three wickets for 11 runs with Rob Shillitoe (2/37) and Saeed Petel (6/46) tempting the barsmen into indiscreet shots.

The only positive to come out of the innings, was Ray Riley's (50) first fifty of the season which was completed during a tenth wicket partnership of 27 with Malcom Taylor (20 n/o). The innings ended in the 33rd over with Ray Riley holing out to Webster on the cover point boundary, and confirming a 150 run defeat that did not flatter the home side.

Shiresheard 3rd 182 for 7 Netherfield  4th 158

 

Netherfield won the toss and elected to field.  Shireshead’s openers, veteran Geoff Hornby (23) and young Sam Whitfield (37) batted steadily and put on 60 for the first wicket when Whitfield was caught by Liam Postlethwaite off the bowling of Mike Smith (1/34) to the delight of the fielders. Peter Dodd (21) joined Hornby and they put on 24 for the 2nd wicket.  Another young player, but a regular of the Shireshead team, David Riley, batted with flair, hitting seven fours in his 35 until he was caught behind by Jay Turner off Alex Davidson.  He and skipper Tony Richmond had a partnership of 42 for the 4th wicket.  Richmond’s visit to the crease was brief as he took 23 minutes and 17 balls to score 25 but with Riley’s it consolidated the innings and set a good target.  Davidson was the most economical of the bowlers with 2 for 21 off 10 overs of which the first three were maidens.

 

In reply, Graham Rand and Dodd struck early, removing the first four batsmen for 50 runs.  A determined stand by Rob McKenzie (19) which included four fours, supported by Davidson (12) moved the score on to 89.  Turner (30) came in at no. 8 and gave hope to the side that the target was just possible if he could stay there with Simon Coulton ( 12 no), as the score progressed.  Turner hit  five fours and a tremendous six over the long boundary but Mike Bailey (2/25) drew him into a loose shot and Whitfield at silly mid-on took the catch neatly to close the innings just 24 runs short.  Despite their loss, Netherfield gained 2 bonus points.  Rand was the most economical bowler with 2 for 19 off his 12 overs which included 4 maidens.