Ashley vs Runcorn

Date: 19th April 2008

Venue: Runcorn CC

Toss won by: Ashley

Batted First: Runcorn

Match Report

A new look Ashley 1X1 featuring 4 debutants opened up the 2008 campaign with a visit to the arctic tundra that was Runcorn CC perched on a hill overlooking the River Mersey and the Runcorn Bridge and fully exposed to a bone chilling wind. Having won the toss the Ashley skipper had no hesitation in asking the home side to bat on a green top. The wicket played well right through the match and the home side certainly didn’t have any problems with it as they racked up 186-6. New signing Noman Hasan and Dave Woods took the new ball and Hasan should have had a wicket in his first over when he found the shoulder of Ollerenshaw’s bat and saw the easiest catch in the history of world cricket loop up to Deans at 2nd slip who amazingly let it fall through his despairing fingers. Thankfully, Woods took care of him for only another 7 runs when he chipped to mid off where Richard Smith took a simple catch. Bebbington rode his luck a little early on but showed good application on his way to an important knock of 44 when he fell to a tired shot and was adjudged LBW to Hasan. With only Woods  (2-32) bowling with any real discipline the Ashley attack struggled in the conditions especially with the sloping ground though both Stuart Redropp and Nomaan Hasan picked up a wicket a piece on debut. None of the home batters displayed any great style or panache at the crease but nonetheless managed to strike some great boundaries timing the ball exceptionally well and also showing good discipline to reach a challenging score of 186-6.

 

After a tea interval largely spent thawing out Ashley began their reply with last years successful paunch hitter Gary Tyms finding April wickets not to his liking and he was soon on his way. Unfortunately for Ashley, it became a procession with O’Doherty and Knight also picked up ducks playing loose shots a little too early to be caught behind.  With Richard Smith also dismissed for 2, Ashley were right in the mire at 4-4, and the target looking a long way off. Ian Barber and Dave Deans consolidated for 10 overs before Dixie began the counter offensive and blasted 48 with a series of quality shots including three sixes over long off. With Barber playing a defensive role at the other end Deans continued to take the fight to the home side until he played the worse shot of his innings, a big heave across the line that saw him bowled by Ollerenshaw when he was well set for a big score. The visitors despite their strong position from early in the Ashley reply continued to be defensive and with men out for much of the innings, the game petered out to a draw with Ashley finishing on 111-6 after Nomaan Hasan (22) and Ross McKinstry (19) added some quick runs.

 

Ashley will feel disappointed not to have done better against a side they beat comfortably last year, however with only one bowler and one batter having had a decent game then its always going to be a struggle. With many players on both sides forced to wear beanie hats because it was so cold, Ashley will have to put this one behind them and pick up their game next week as they welcome a strong Malpas side to Rostherne Road and hope to catch them just as cold given that they were abandoned without a ball being bowled against Mere last week.

 

FIRST INNINGS

 

Batting

 

Batter

How Out

Bowler

Runs

1.

S. Ollerenshaw

Ct. Smith

Woods

9

2.

S. Bebbington

LBW

Hasan

44

3.

R. Pretorious

Ct. Hasan

Redropp

27

4.

I. Williams

Ct. Deans

Barber

26

5.

M. Cahill

Ct. Tyms

Woods

43

6.

J. Weston

Not

Out

16

7.

D. Wooley

Not

Out

5

8.

 

 

 

 

9.

 

 

 

 

10.

 

 

 

 

11.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Extras

16

 

 

 

Total

186

 

BOWLING

Name

O

M

R

W

N. Hasan

15

4

46

1

D. Woods

12

3

32

2

S. Redropp

8

1

0

1

D. Deans

5

0

36

0

I. Barber

5

0

28

1

 

 

SECOND INNINGS

 

Batting

 

Batter

How Out

Bowler

Runs

1.

R. Smith

Bowled

Hill

2

2.

G. Tyms

Bowled

Hill

0

3.

L. O’Doherty

Ct. Cahill

Weston

  0

4.

C. Knight

Ct. Cahill

Weston

  0

5.

D. Deans

Bowled

Ollerenshaw

48

6.

I. Barber

Not

Out

13

7.

R. McKinstry

Ct. Ollerenshaw

O‘Brien

19

8.

N. Hasan

Bowled

O’Brien

22

9.

M. Wilson

Not

Out

0

10.

D. Woods

DNB

 

 

11.

 S. Redrop

 

 

 

 

 

 

Extras

7

 

 

 

Total

111

 

BOWLING

Name

O

M

R

W

J. Weston

12

6

15

2

J. Hill

10

4

11

2

S. Ollerenshaw

7

0

26

1

I. Williams

5