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Ashley vs Middlewich Date: Sunday 16th August 2009 Venue: Middlewich Toss won by: AshleyBatted First: Ashley |
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After winning the toss, stand in skipper, John Burt, elected to bat on one of the hardest pitches in Cheshire, with an unfamiliar team – no less than 6 superstars missing due to work, holidays and parties. The team knew that anything less than 200 runs will be hard to defend.
The 14th new opening partnership for the season, which consisted of Burgess M and Murray didn’t last long as Murray was back in the changing rooms just as the rest of the team were coming out. Ferris and Burgess then proceeded to bat sensibly, reaching 57 for 1 after 15 overs. However, the fall of Burgess led to the same middle order collapse that was seen the week before. Burt defended the ball to short mid-on and decided to run, leaving the opposition to pick up the ball and walk to the stumps to run Burt out. Brewster and Sadozai soon joined Burt in the pavilion. Blain and Wardle then proceeded to play exactly the same shot to give their wickets away – chip to cover, providing the Middlewich youngsters with catching practise. Ferris departed playing his first loose shot of the day and was soon joined by Harrison trying to hit everything for 6. This left Oldbury and Agrawal having to defend 9 overs out to ensure Middlewich got no extra overs. This lasted 8 overs, before the confident Oldbury was finally bowled. This left Ashley defending a score of 138, 62 runs less than a good score for the pitch and probably 50 runs more than the team deserved.
After a top tea, Ashley returned to the field knowing that they were going to have to bowl line and length. Agrawal started well bowling two tight maiden overs, while Harrison bowled too short and was gifting the opposition with runs. Agrawal was becoming increasingly frustrated and started bowling straighter which was too easy for the batsman to dispatch to the boundary with the pace and even bounce. This brought the spin twins on, Wardle and Murray. They both started well and managed to pick up three wickets between them but then proceeded to bowl full tosses and down leg side, again gifting the opposition with runs. The confident Burgess was probably the only bowler who bowled well, and was unlucky that the team weren’t fielding well enough to take the chances he was creating. Middlewich managed to easily knock off the small total Ashley posted with the gifts that Ashley were handing out.
Only as the team walked off and shook the oppositions hands, they realised, that one or two more wickets would have brought the not very experienced players in which they might have had a good chance of bowling out easily.
Next week the team faces top of the league Tattenhall, who would be hoping Ashley decide to hand out easy wickets and free runs. With the Superstars deciding they want to play, lets hope that the team starts to want to win, instead of being “nice guys”. If Ashley are to be promoted, they are going to have to bat and bowl sensibly but most importantly, up the fielding.
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FIRST INNINGS |
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SECOND INNINGS |
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Result: Middlewich won by 7 wickets |
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