Langley fail to chase down Peover target
LANGLEY 1st were brought back down to earth at the weekend when they suffered a disappointing loss at home to Over Peover.
The away side won the toss and elected to bat, but a few minutes later the heavens opened and 8 overs were lost by each side.
Paddy Turner and skipper David Frame opened the bowling, the former was rewarded second ball of the game as he produced a snorter of a delivery to dismiss Nightingale (snr), Owen and Bodimede both looked assured, but Turner struck for the second time bowling the latter for 7 with the score on 23-2. Gosling and Owen both mixed defence and attack and doubled the score, before Frame struck twice in one over, Gosling, 9, was well caught by Turner at deep mid off and local celebrity Towns was pinned LBW second ball as the visitors were reduced to 49-4.
Nightingale (Jnr) joined Owen and produced a vital stand of 36, the youngster looked very composed scoring 7 before he was bowled by Cowen with the score on 85-5.
With only 7 overs remaining the lower order attempted to increase the tempo.
Owen, 52, the backbone of the innings was bowled by Cowen, Adam Cartwright then took over trapping Baghust 5 LBW, Ward, 13, was bowled, he ran out Mitchell, 3, and had Sass, 3, caught in the covers as Peover closed on 113 all out in the 36th over.
Cartwright 3-34 off 6 overs, Frame 2-18 off 11 overs, Cowen 2-27 off 10 overs and Turner 2-28 off 8 overs all bowled well.
In reply Langley yet again got off to a woeful start. Dave Gregory and Sunny Malik got ducks as they were adjudged LBW. Chris Pattison, 2, was caught behind and Danny Brown, 7, was also LBW as they collapsed to 10-4.
Pat Horgan and Ollie Wheelton then led a fightback. The youngster hit some fine drives to see off the dangerous Towns, and they took the score to 58 before Wheelton 28 was caught behind. Horgan 19 soon followed, dismissed in the same manner. Cowen and Matt Betteridge took the score to 80, before Betteridge 10 was also caught behind.
Four runs later Cowen was caught at deep mid-off, Cartwright and Frame took the score to 96, before Frame 2 was LBW.
Turner and Cartwright then had to score 18 to win the game but it was not to be as Cartwright, 13, was bowled as Langley were all out for 99.
For Peover Baghust 4 wickets, Towns and Nightngale (snr) all bowled well.
Langley slip to fifth place and travel to Appleton next Saturday.
Skipper Frame was in a subdued mood: “We bowled well, yet again though we were sloppy in the field, nevertheless 113 was a total we should have chased. Credit to Peover who bowled very well. We now need to get together as a unit, support each other and show some character, we have a tough game next week and need to get back on track”.
Langley 2nd XI restored some pride they scored 132 with Cameron Gold hitting 45 before bowling out Over Peover for 110, Matt Barber taking 5 wickets.