Bolly snatch victory in thrilling style
BOLLINGTON travelled to Davenham at the weekend in what would be an exhilarating match taken to the wire.
Davenham chose to field first, with the conditions looking to favour the hosts.
They didn’t have to wait long to take their first wicket of the match, Leese removed for six caught in the slips by Gough to leave Bollington 11-1.
James Cross was the next man in, and alongside Hough, he looked steady as the visitors passed 50.
As Bollington looked to be going well, the wickets of both batsmen fell in quick succession.
Cross was the first man to vacate for a hard fought 16, closely followed by Hough (26) for a contentious caught behind decision going against the Bollington captain.
McGuinness and Dickinson were the new men at the crease, who could only add 12 to the scores before Blackie bowled Dickinson for eight.
Henshall added a quick fire 14 before being caught on the boundary.
The visitors continued to struggle, as McGuinness was the next man out for nine, with Bollington just three runs short of bringing up their hundred.
Heathcote and Horsfield increased the scoring rate to see the score increase to a more competitive rate of 119 before Horsfield was caught for 13.
He was replaced by Bishop who added a crucial 17 to give Bollington a fighting chance of victory as the visitors posted a below par 156.
Bollington made a great start in defending their total, as in successive overs Horsfield (2-35) removed both openers.
First to fall was Loveridge, LBW for four, followed by Gough, caught by Henshall in the slips for one.
Davenham looked in trouble as wickets continued to tumble, Dickinson (1-17) bowling Hunt for 14 with the visitors well on top with the scores at 37-3.
Victory looked almost certain as the Bollington bowlers terrorised, the host’s adding just 17 runs as another four wickets fell, Seale ending his first spell with one wicket, Roddis (3-25) with three.
The Davenham lower order had other ideas, as they moved ever closer to the required score. They were in a strong position, requiring just 12 runs for victory with three wickets remaining.
Seale gave Bollington a glimmer of hope, breaking the 73-run partnership of Hancock and Blackie.
The visitors still had a lot of work for victory. However, an in-form Dario Seale took the final two wickets in just four balls to give Bollington the unlikeliest of victories.
Victory saw Bollington move up to second in the table as the half way mark approaches.
It’s Urmston at the Recreation Ground next weekend.
It was an successful weekend all round for Bollington as the second XI won comprehensively by five wickets.
Nolan (5-48) with the pick of the bowling figures, Bateman, Nolan 21 and Patterson 39* seeing Bollington over the line as they moved up to fourth.