Langley hold leaders

LANGLEY 1st travelled to league leaders Wimslow at the weekend and held on for a hard-fought draw.

Skipper Frame elected to bowl on a firm, hard deck.

Betteridge and Turner opened up, the luckless Betteridge saw two tough chances go down in his first over.

The openers added 46 when Narayanan (31) was caught behind off the bowling of Turner.

Frame then trapped Kinnerley 0 LBW.

Rowe and Herriot took the score to 98, when Rowe (17) chipped to Letven at mid off, Patterson claiming the wicket.

This proved to be the last wicket as Wilmslow struck out – hitting 125 runs off 12 overs as they declared on 228-3 off 40 overs. For the hosts, Herriot (101no) and Dixon (71no) both batted very well. With several catches spilled, Langley did not help their own cause. Turner 1-16 off seven overs, Frame 1-32 off eight overs, Patterson 1-45 off five overs took the wickets, Berzins 0-29 off nine overs and Beteridge 0-36 off six overs deserved better.

In reply Langley lost Pattison (5) early on – bowled by Kinnerley.

The defiant Gregory and Hobbs saw off the new ball, the latter hitting two huge sixes onto the leisure centre roof.

They took the score to 54, when Hobbs (32) was adjudged LBW.

Hughes joined Gregory and continued the rearguard action, the score reached 81 when Gregory (26) was bowled by Sykes.

Hughes (20) was then caught behind as Langley wobbled on 89-4 off 32 overs.

Betteridge and Dunne added 30 in five overs before Dunne (9) was caught at mid on.

Langley then collapsed, as Betteridge (29) miscued to point, Letven (4) was run out and Patterson (1) was bowled.

Langley were in trouble on 133-8 with eight overs to survive.

Skipper Frame – 2 from 21 balls – showed resistance before being trapped LBW, leaving Turner and Berzins to last out for six overs for a draw.

Langley entertain Sandbach on Saturday.