Toss won by: Ashley

Batted First: Congleton

With holidays and availability stretching a stretched squad to the limit The Blue Caps arrived at the compact Congleton ground with a team featuring 13 year old debutant James Semple and promising keeper Martin Blain, both lads did themselves proud.

Mindful of potential bowling points Skipper Ruby won the toss and invited Congleton to bat on a good looking surface and a quick outfield. Openers Baxendale and Mitchell started at a cracking pace finding the boundary all around the ground, their hundred partnership coming in just twenty overs. Just when The Blue Caps were looking at chasing a total of around 270+ Jimmy produced the first Kodak moment for a while taking a sharp chance in the slips off The Dodger.

With perhaps Tenpole Tudors Swords of a Thousand Men ringing in his ears The Dodger with help first from Jimmy D, then Nick and George managed to pull the run rate back whilst taking wickets, things were looking good until a hard hitting 48 from Ikin gave the home side some momentum, a piece of quick thinking from the impressive Blain gave Ashley a fourth bowling point as the declaration was made in the forty second over.

After an impressive tea (You were right Woodsy) Ricey and Wardy opened up and started quickly with Ricey finding early boundaries until playing over one from the pacy Mawby. Nick promoted to three looked good, playing correctly until he was unluckily adjudged LBW when down the wicket at a delivery that looked very leggish. Wardy quickly followed bringing Jimmy to the crease who looked at ease against a good home attack. With Ruby falling to a wide one Jimmy tried to build with the help of young Martin and James. Their scores do not reflect the support they gave, both showing good defence and taking blows for the team, whilst running well between the wickets. Jimmy was given LBW when a good distance down the pitch. The remaining wickets of George and Jimmy D fell bringing Rish and The Dodger to the crease, a brief cameo followed with The Dodger doing his best ‘I’m a batsman’ impression.

Full marks to Congleton who look a good bet for The Championship, whilst Ashley face a tough run in to avoid the drop with every point valuable in a relegation dog fight.

FIRST INNINGS

Batting
	Batsman	How Out	Bowler	Runs
1.	M Baxendale	Ct Murray	McKie	46
2.	R Mitchell	Ct Felix	McKie	55
3.	R Booth	LBW	McKie	15
4.	M Hunter	Ct Holt	McKie	1
5.	T Gorman	Ct Murray	G Power	25
6.	J Ikin	Bowled	G Power	48
7.	N Tabbner	Not Out		6
8.	A Baxendale	St Blain	G Power	0
9.
10.
11.
			Extras	9
			Total	205

BOWLING
Name	O	M	R	W
R Agrawal	5	0	27	0
G Power	10	1	44	3
N Holt	5	0	34	0
R McKie	11	2	46	4
C Pendlebury	11	0	51	0

SECOND INNINGS

Batting
	Batsman	How Out	Bowler	Runs
1.	D Rice	Bowled	Mawby	17
2.	J Ward	Ct M Baxendale	Cardall	6
3.	N Holt	LBW	Mawby	13
4.	J Felix	LBW	Mawby	10
5.	A Murray	Ct Baxendale	Mawby	5
6.	M Blain	Bowled	Mawby	0
7.	J Semple	Ct Hunter	Cardall	0
8.	C Pendlebury	Bowled	Cardall	0
9.	G Power	Ct Baxendale	Mawby	3
10.	R Agrawal	Not Out		4
11.	R McKie	Bowled	Cohen	5
			Extras	14
			Total	77

BOWLING
Name	O	M	R	W
C Mawby	13	4	24	6
J Ikin	5	1	19	0
S Cardall	9	1	19	3
D Cohen	1.4	1	3	1

Result: Ashley 4 Congleton 25

Toss won by: Ashley

FIRST INNINGS

R Agrawal

N Holt

R McKie