Leaders Langley ease to Wirral win
LANGLEY 1st XI remain top of Cheshire Cricket Division 3 after another solid display at home to the Wirral.
Skipper Alex Berzins won the toss and elected to bowl on a firm deck which looked ideal for batting.
Langley suffered an early blow as Paully Morgan (0) was bowled in the second over with the score of on 4. Pat Horgan joined Chris Pattison and both look in good form the score reached 24 when Pattison (6) edged to slip and was caught at the second attempt.
Horgan and James Bennet then rebuilt the innings in the face of some good bowling. Horgan was severe on anything loose hitting several huge sixes, they took the total to 85 when Horgan (56) was bowled – a fine innings by the Aussie import.
The innings then fell away as Langley were reduced to 106-6. Danny Brown (2) was caught in the covers, Adam Cartwright (10) was bowled and Steve Whittingham (2) was plumb LBW.
Matty Betteridge and Bennet showed determination and grit, punishing anything wayward and playing back the good balls, adding 50 before Betteridge (27) misjudged a straight ball and was bowled. Bennet (54) soon followed as he chipped straight back to the bowler, another solid effort.
Alex Berzins and David Frame ensured maximum batting points until the latter was caught in the deep for 2 with the score on 1819. Berzins and Callum Love then excelled adding 41 crucial runs for last wicket, Berzins hitting a fine 44 and Love 11no as Langley closed on 222 all out.
After a delicious Betteridge family tea, the Wirral started their reply poorly as Adam Cartwright took two wickets in his first over –he bowled Lewis (4) and then had Slight (0) caught at point.
Jones and Muise both attacked the bowling and were severe on any poor deliveries. Cartwright claimed a third wicket as Jones (13) miscued to Brown at mid on, with the score on 44-3.
Frame replaced Berzins and struck immediately, trapping Dom Devaling (4) LBW. Muise and Dan Devaling then set about the bowling both striking some huge blows. The duo added 63 in eight overs, and with the score on 112-4 the game was in the balance – but the visitors then fell apart. Betteridge caught and bowled Develling (24), saw Peel (0) superbly caught at gully by Bennet and then bowled Docherty (0).
Whittingham at the other end had Kumar (0) LBW, Muise (70) was caught behind and then Stacy (0) was dismissed as the Wirral closed on 124 all out as Langley won by 98 runs. Whittingham 3-6, Cartwright 3-12 and Betteridge 3-34 all bowled great spells.
Langley bowed out of the 20/20 cup following their defeat against Disley, who posted 183-5. Frame 2-26, Pattison 1-28 and Love 1-31 were pick of the bowling.
In reply, Langley could muster only 153-5, top scoring was Morgan (52), while Horgan chipped in with 38no.
Langley travel to Appleton on Saturday.