Westmorland League U-24 competition
Sunday 3 May: Meresiders 115    Shireshead Show Ponies 119 – 5

On a windy Sunday afternoon at Hollins Road, it was the young guns of Burneside and Windermere (Meresiders) who were asked to bat first. With both sides missing key players, it was Shireshead’s strength in depth that shone through, Dave Jack bowled with fire, clean bowling both the dangerous Sam Fletcher and Griffiths in his second over. Skipper Marcus Oates joined Shepherd (15), and began to rebuild the innings before Shepherd fell victim to a sharp stumping by Sam Clarkson off the bowling of Jack Dodd, whose beguiling leg-spin continued to rip through the middle order, finishing his impressive 8 over spell with 4 for 20.

Meresiders misery continued with the run out of Daws (0) from a direct hit by Sam Hilton. Oates still at the wicket found support from the hard hitting Ben Leacock (20), sharing a 33 run partnership, before Leacock was dismissed by the returning Jack (3 for 13), well supported by Oliver Lawson, Rob Charles and Alex Taylor (1 for 13) who bowled Oates for 55 as he tried to accelerate the innings.

Meresiders were 115ao in the 34rd over.

The Burneside “Hot Pot Tea” certainly thawed out the umpires and warmed up the Shireshead batsmen. Sam Hilton (14) and Simon Harrison gave the Show Ponies a perfect start. After the loss of the impressive Hilton, Peter Dodd (12) shared a run a ball 50 partnership with Harrison (49) hitting the ball cleanly to all parts. With the score on 83 for 2, the Show Ponies looked to be strutting to an easy victory, but 3 quick wickets from S.Huck (3for 40) gave the Meresiders hope. It was left to the experienced Tony Richmond (12no) and the dashing Dave Jack (13no) to see the Show Ponies to 119 – 5 with 10 overs to spare (half the total coming in 2’s).

The Show Ponies now have a home tie in the Semi-Final against Westgate Sands Storm.