20 June

Shireshead & Forton  189/4 dec  Ibis Works 97/9

After Cumbria  Under- 15 player, Darren Braithwaite (2/48) removed Colin Twiname (0), Tom Jacques (30) and Paul Yates (55) added 60 in 15 overs.  When Jacques fell he was replaced by his brother Robert who showed a wide spectrum of shots in making  29 out of a partnership of 46 with Yates, who showed the ability to improvise shots as well as playing the anchor role on a slow and often difficult pitch.  It set the scene for Phil Oliver to cudgel four 6s in making an unbeaten 43 from 33 balls, receiving support from Mike Park (14 not out).

Spencer Samson (15) and Andy Earl (11) were discomforted by the pace of David Jack who hit both batsmen on the helmet in a challenging opening spell.  It was Tom Jacques though who made the breakthrough and who went on to take 7/29 from 16 overs, slicing through the middle order.  Alistair Braithwaite survived a difficult chance and receiving good support from Brad Earl (16) dug in to try to salvage a point for the home side.  Phil Oliver (2/13) supported Jacques well, but once Earl was dismissed there was further resistance from Steve Troughton (9) who also was gifted a life.  When he fell to Oliver, Jack Swindlehurst defended resolutely to ensure the game finished drawn.  Braithwaite was left unbeaten having made a patient and skilful 27 from 95 balls.

Shireshead & Forton 'A' 106 all out Galgate 68 all out

In the "Local Derby" at Clifton Park on Saturday, it was the home side Shireshead who won the bragging rights in a low scoring match. Bowling first the Galgate opening pair of Simon Beales (2/22), and  Matty Cooper (6/32) justified their captain's decision to insert the home side.  It was an impressive return from the former Galgate captain who started this season at Forton, only to be transferred back to Galgate three weeks ago. Cooper bowled with swing and seam movement reducing the home side to 26 for 6 after only ten overs.

A seventh wicket partnership of 24 from Simon Moulson (8), and the ever improving batsmen Jack Dodd (38) began the rebuilding process. After the eighth wicket dismissal of Malcolm Taylor (3), by Cooper with a brilliant return catch only 52 runs were on the scoreboard. Jack Dodd continued to defy the visitors with skilful defence allied to well placed aggression, assisted by Joy Arun (12) and Alan Moulsdale (3no)as 54 runs were scored for the two remaining wickets.

Stunned by their batting collapse the home side came out with a fighting spirit after the interval. In the third over Galgate were 4 for 2 with Ray Riley (snr) and the prolific David Morgan back in the pavilion without scoring, both victims of Joy Arun (2/19).

A third wicket stand of 53 from Danny Brighouse (41) and Nigel Cunliffe (12) put Galgate firmly in control. The introduction of Rahul Sabharwal (2/11) turned the game back towards Shireshead by removing Brighouse's off stump. In his second spell Alan Moulsdale (5/20) removed Tim Speak (5) to a excellent catch by Joy Arun, and Nigel Cunliffe to a low catch by Sam Clarkson.

The visitors never recovered from flurry of wickets and were dismissed for 68, amazingly losing eight wickets for 11 runs.

Shireshead 3rd 120 Bentham 73

As usual, Shireshead’s skipper lost the toss and they were put in to bat.  Openers John Coates (3) and Geoff Hornby (12) found Bentham’s opening bowlers Sam Lister and skipper Simon Murphy very hard to score off so that runs were accrued extremely slowly.  It was only after their dismissals that the younger generation of batsmen began to open up the scoring and Peter Dodd (23) did a manful job in maintaining one end while well-supported by skipper Tony Richmond (15) as they put on 41 for the 6^th wicket.   Murphy was the most economical bowler whose 12 overs included 7 maidens, while he took 2 wickets for 16, aided by Lister 2/16 too and Mark Abbot whose seven overs included four maidens and one wicket for five runs.

In reply, Graham Rand removed opener Matthew France (2) and the no. 3 batsman, Daniel Briggs who dragged the ball on to his wicket, with consecutive balls in his first over.  13 runs later, Murphy (6) was bowled by Dodd.  Then Lister dug himself in and with Andy Chappell (6) put on 21 for the 4^th wicket, before Rand struck again, bowling Chappell.  In his next over he removed Abbot (1) and Daniel Elleshaw (0).  No-one was allowed to build a score, except Lister who managed to withstand the onslaught and finished on 25 no.

Rand ‘s figures read 11- 3- 23-8.  It is the first time he has bagged 8 wickets for Shireshead and he has taken 350 wickets for the 3^rd team, not a bad tally for our celebrated veteran!