Young Langley’s positive opener

LANGLEY 1st XI got their 2016 off to a positive start with a comfortable home win against Aston.

The visitors won the toss and asked Langley to bat. Tift and Hobbs opened up and the debutant Tift was soon back in the pavilion, bowled by the evergreen Pat Beasley for 1. Little joined Hobbs and the duo punished anything loose, although Hobbs did ride his luck at times he looked in fine touch. They pushed the score to 48 at which point Little 17 was caught at mid on. Luke Cartwright, signed on a free transfer from Macclesfield CC, was trapped LBW second ball for a duck, Leese claiming both wickets.

Hobbs continued to mix defence and assisted by the solid Jacklin they added 63 valuable runs and took the score to 111 before Jacklin 13 was caught at mid wicket.

Chris Pattison arrived at the crease and looked at ease, striking the ball superbly, with Hobbs well set the pair added 95 runs in 13 overs during which Kiwi Hibbs reached his maiden Langley century.

He finally fell for 109 off 105 balls, hitting 10 and fours and six sixes.

Pattison was caught in the deep for an excellent 60 off just 50 balls, it was left to Betteridge 23 and Adam Cartwright 3no to take Langley to 239-7 off 42 overs before skipper Frame declared, for Aston Beasley 4-47 and Leese 2-47 were the pick.

In reply, Turner and Frame opened the bowling. Aston were soon after in trouble as Frame trapped both openers LBW as they struggled to 10-2. Turner refused to be outshone, bowling both Joseph 0 and Davis 1.

Frame had Shah 15 caught in the deep by Pattison and bowled Sridhar. Betteridge replaced Turner and bowled Forster to leave Aston in deep trouble on 33-7. Frame then saw Adam Cartwright catch Macey at mid off before Betteridge bowled King.

It was left to vice captain Berzins to claim the final wicket as Beasley chipped to Adam Cartwright at cover as Aston were all out for 62.

Frame 5-24, Turner 2-10, Betteridge 2-13 and Berzins 1-9 took the wickets, Adam Cartwright bowled a maiden on his debut for 1st XI and it will not be long before he claims his first wicket.

Skipper Frame said: “The team netted well over the winter and a great team spirit seems to have developed, let’s hope we can carry that forward.

“We have a young side that can do well if they all apply themselves, our batting has great depth and the bowling has a good variety, Hobbsy and Chris batted superbly and took the game away from Aston, the bowlers knew their job and put the ball in good areas. I was pleased with Paddy who realised it’s not all about pace on these slow wickets.

“With the likes of Danny Brown, Si Patterson, Dave Letven and Greggers missing we have good competition for places, with the link up with Macclesfield cc the club can give the likes of Adam and Luke Cartwright a chance to shine and develope their cricket.”