Hard work pays off as Kerridge go top

KERRIDGE travelled to play Rylands on Saturday and after a number of one sided games in their favour they had to work hard to overcome the Warrington side.

Winning the toss, Kerridge batted as is the norm for them but that was about all that was normal. Rylands took wickets from the first over, losing Regan (0) off a leading edge. Banks was next to go, bowled (11) followed by Capper, caught (6). Both Wild (0) and Windsor (0) were bowled to leave the visitors 38-5 in nine overs.

Only Jimmy Knight at four made batting look easy and when Grimes (2) and Renshaw (0) had also departed, managed to find a solid batting partner from skipper on the day Phil Ravenscroft. Between them they took the score from 61-7 to 113-8 when Ravenscroft was caught for 24 . Ryder (0) and Heapy (0) went quickly to leave Knight stranded on his own on 72 not out and wondering what was going on at the other end. Rylands’ T Taylor took 6-33 as Kerridge were 120ao in just 26 overs, only the second time they have been bowled out this year.

After a short tea Kerridge set about defending a small total and Knight continued from his earlier heroics with the bat in an awesome spell of bowling which saw Rylands lose 10 wickets for 14 runs, capitulating from 10-0 to 24ao in 13 overs with Knight taking 7-18 as well as an incredible run out.

Neil Banks also took 2-6 in support but it seemed the day belonged to Knight as Rylands were left completely shell shocked after seeming confident of an early finish in their advantage!

Kerridge took 25 points and claimed top spot in the league for the first time this season.

They have another tricky encounter when they travel to Heaton Mersey Village next which sees the only unbeaten sides left in the league square up.