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Ashley vs Widnes Date: 9th August 2009 Venue: Ashley Toss won by:AshleyBatted First:Ashley |
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Two Ashley 3rd teamers had obviously not heard Sir Geoffrey Boycott talking about just sticking to cricket before important matches. Brownhill and Griffiths had both stuffed their ankles playing tennis and football respectively so a few changes had to be made resulting in Ferris being drafted back in and George Aspden coming up from the 4ths with only an hour or so before the start of the game. Ashley skipper Burgess tossed up and won deciding in positive mood to bat first and try and get the 25 points that were needed to keep up with the league title race. The game started just before 2pm and Ferris was back in the pavilion before 2pm edging the first ball of the game to the slips; not an ideal start. Murray was joined by Shelston who was playing in his first game for a while due to a groin injury which was made worse by playing football [Please can all Ashley 3rds take heed of Sir Geoffrey’s comments over the coming weeks]. Shelston looked good hitting Quinn for 2 consecutive fours, however the next over Murray was adjudged LBW; the umpires finger went up quicker than a NASA Space Shuttle however it was a fair decision. Burt went out wanting to build on his 106* of the previous week however he was well caught at mid on after trying to smash the bowler Stevens back over his head and was back in the pavilion for 2. Shelston followed in the next over after missing a straight one and it was not looking great at 39 for 4. Skipper Burgess went out and came back in after 5 mins edging one behind and was unlucky to be caught by the keeper who was suffering from a case of dropsy’s; 41 for 5. Bongo Harrison joined Matt Wardle who was batting well. What was to happen next left most of the Ashley team confused as Harrison received a head high full toss from the pacey Lea top edged it and was adjudged out after Quinn took the catch even after the umpires [One from Widnes and Ferris of Ashley] had a meeting of minds…the hapless Bongo trudged back to the shed. 46-6 it seemed disaster was on the cards. Martin Blain who had not batted for a number of weeks joined Wardle and some sensible batting as well as some lovely hitting [Including Blain hitting the bowler Stevens back over his head for a one bounce 4] a partnership of 28 was much needed but ended as Blain edged one behind off Lea 74 for 7 however 100 looked a long way off. Agrawal nurdled around then Wardle was given LBW by the quickest finger in the west division for a sensible 14, 81 for 8. Agrawal soon followed with a good ball that took his bails 93 for 9. It was then that the innings was turned on its head as Zain Sadozai got his eye in after his first ball what followed will be remembered by every member of Ashley CC who was there. Whilst George Aspden held up his end Zain went Inzain [Get it ? oh nevermind…] and clubbed the Widnes bowling attack to all parts including 2 massive 6’s half way into the Church End field off the hapless Aussie Stevens. A number of drops, missed stumpings and missed run outs ensued in only 9 over’s the 10 and 11 of Ashley had put on 53 for the last wicket as Zain was eventually run out for a very entertaining 46, not so much fun for the Widnes players who had a half time Hull City style lecture out on the Ashley hallowed turf. 146 all out. Ashley held their in the dressing rooms as is customary but came back out to clap off the Widnes team when they eventually came in. Ashley believed that the balance of the game had swung their way and with the bowling attack they had were confident in defending what was their lowest total in the league this season. Rishy Agrawal and Bongo Harrison stepped out and demolished the top order of Widnes. Harrison bowled Roberts with the last ball of his first over and Rish had Cashmore caught by Murray whose excellent low down one handed reflex catch at gully sparked celebrations. By the end of Bongo’s 2nd over he had removed Hurstfield well caught by Wardle at point and caught and bowled Pilling. Widnes were 5 for 4 and in total shock. Rish was unlucky only to have 1 wicket as a number of balls went flying past the stumps either assisted by the bat or just beating the batman all ends up however he soon had his second and he bowled Cadwallader. In his next over Atkin edged one to Burgess at first slip who wore the ball nicely on his chest and hoped it wasn’t going to cost many runs; no panic needed as Rish bowled him next ball. Widnes were 29 for 6 and rocking. Both openers were starting to look tired as they had put everything into their opening over’s in what was still a warm day and had been hit to the boundary on several occasions so a change was needed. Matt Wardle now feeling fully fit [He had spent a few weeks out after damaging his elbow playing football, bit of a pattern developing methinks] turned one with his first ball and removed Dale who had only saw fit to deal in boundaries before departing for a quick fire 16. This brought out Stevens who Burgess had trapped LBW with his first ball to him, there was to be no repeat show of his match winning innings from earlier in the season. Wardle in his second over then had Quinn top edge one to Shelston who was thinking what a lovely day it was at short fine leg, a shout of ‘CATCH!!!’ from several Ashley teammates soon woke him up and he took a comfortable one 65 for 9. Numbers 10 and 11 put up a little of resistance until Burgess managed to turn one from leg and took his oppo numbers off stump. The bowler looked as stunned as the batsman. It was hard to pick the man of the match but after consideration without Zains innings of 46 Ashley would have been looking to defend a total of less than 100 and may have not stepped out in the confident mood that they did for Widnes’s innings. The bowling, fielding and attitude was spot on from Ashley and a well deserved victory was had from what was looking to be a defeat only 3 hours earlier.
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FIRST INNINGS |
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SECOND INNINGS |
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Result:Ashley[24] beat Widnes [6] by 62 runs |
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