Bolly beat rivals
BOTH of last year’s promoted sides met for this first time this season at the recreation ground, with Bollington looking to make amends after narrowly missing out on the league title by one point.
Warrington won the toss, and elected to field first. With conditions suiting the bowling side earlier on, openers Rick Hough and Harri Dickinson did well to survive the first 10 overs looking unscathed as the scores passed 30.
The 11th over saw the game’s first wicket, as Bollington skipper Hough was bowled for 10. This brought to the crease Edgar, who alongside the in-form H Dickinson structured a composed innings.
H Dickinson was searching for his third half century in a week following two matching winning performances. However this time he fell short, caught and bowled by Huw Stone for 31. Edgar was next to vacate for 21 as two new batsmen were joined at the crease.
At 25 overs Bollington were 79-2 with overseas Faiz Kippie and Jake Dickinson at the crease, they were looking to accelerate the scores. A fine display from of hitting saw Bollington cruise to 120-2 with Kippie hitting an array of sixes on to the football field.
Similar to the previous wicket, two more fell in quick succession, Dickinson trapped LBW for 26 and Kippie going for one maximum to many, as he was caught on the long on boundary for 44.
As Warrington looked to be back in the game Plant and Barrass had other ideas, the home side passed the 200 mark after 42 overs. Barrass was motoring along as he approached his half century only to fall short for 48.
With only eight overs remaining, the host were looking to increase the scores as Plant (34), Henshall (1), Horsfield (7) saw the home side to finish on a very competitive 238-9, declaring with one over to spare.
Immediately after tea Binder continued his fine bowling performance by removing Warrington captain Mike Rudd after a fine catch from Pete Henshall in the slips.
The over later Kippie mirrored Binder (1-35), taking the wicket of Adam Green for 0, this time caught by Horsfield. Kippie (2-38) again was amongst the wickets as this time he removed McIntosh, LBW for 2, leaving the home side well on top after three overs at 17-3.
A Warrington revival dominated proceedings for the next 15 overs as Fleetwood and Agar hit an array of boundaries, as the visitors passed the 100 mark off just 17 overs.
Warrington looked rejuvenated, and were well above the run rate and scoring freely, before a change in the bowling immediately made an impact, Jake Dickinson removed Agar LBW for 44 as the scores were evenly poised at 121-4.
A change in the bowling at the opposite end was just as successful, with only his 3rd ball Horsfield bowled Heaphy for 0. With favourable condi- tions, Horsfield struck again removing the dangerous Fleetwood for 55 after a brilliant diving catch from keeper Ged Mckernan.
The same combination stuck again, Horsfield bowling, Mckernan keeping and with some fine glove work saw Rudd stumped for 0. With the away side seven wickets down, victory looked unlikely however some resilience from the Warrington tail frustrated the hosts.
Bollington had to wait another six overs before striking again, Horsfield taking his fourth wicket after yet another stunning catch in the slips from Peter Henshall.
The following ball Horsfield (5-32) took his fifth of the afternoon removing Jogi, this time caught in the slips by Plant, leaving the home side needing just one wicket for victory with the scores at 158-9.
Bollington were made to wait until the final five overs of the match, as Warrington’s overseas batted well for his 50, and to take his side over the 170 mark. J Dickinson (2-11) was the man the take the final wicket, bowling Stone for 55 seeing Bollington won their third successive league home game in succession, to put them in a healthy league position at this early stage in the season.
It was a successful weekend all round as Bollington 2nd XI won away at Alvanley. Bollington, bowling the hosts out for 113, knocked them off just 2 wickets down. Club legend, Oli Nolan with the pick of the figures – 15 overs 7 wickets for 32 runs.