Langley bid to close gap is thwarted

LANGLEY 1st XI remain in second place in Cheshire League 3 after rained thwarted their chances of a victory away at Cholmondeley.

The hosts asked Langley to bat first. Paully Morgan and Zak Howdle opened and got off to a steady start before Morgan was bowled for 13 with the score on 26.

Dave Letven (6) soon followed, trapped LBW. Pat Horgan and Howdle doubled the score as Langley reached 69-2.

Langley then lost a flurry of wickets as Horgan (18) was bowled, Oli Wheelton (0) was caught in the covers and Howdle (32) was bowled as Langley struggled to 75-5.

Credit to the middle order who all contributed; Andy Pawley (27), Matty Betteridge (24), Adam Cartwright (23), veteran Steve Whittingham (15no) and Alex Berzins (10) ensured Langley reached maximum batting points as they closed on 181 all out.

In response, the Cholmondeley opening duo added 26 before Berzins bowled Carlisle (18).

Hanmer and Law dug in and put the hosts in the driving seat, adding 69 at which point Pawley bowled Law (30).

Hanmer was joined by Griffiths and they took the score to 124; Betteridge then bowled Hanmer (55).

The hosts then stumbled with the winning line in sight. Wellbourne (2) was caught by Patterson off Betteridge, Berzins bowled Griffiths (24) and Betteridge bowled Balac (9).

With the score on 158-6 and five overs remaining, the rain came and the game was abandoned.

Both sides would of felt they had a chance to win. Betteridge 3-16 off 4 overs was the pick of the attack, backed up by Berzins 2-42 off 13 overs. Langley are now 15 points behind a leaders Heaton Mersey and just two points ahead of Bunbury.

Langley 2nd XI’s run of good form came to and end at the weekend when they were beaten by Timperley 4ths.

Langley were asked to bat first and got off to a great start as the evergreen Rick Laughton (27) and Dave Gregory (37) added 65 for the first wicket.

The innings then fell apart as they collapsed to 94-7. Skipper David Frame (23) and Callum Live (22) ensured Langley had a total to defend as they closed on 148-9.

In reply, Frame and Love struck early as Timperley were reduced to 35-2.

However, despite a late flurry of wickets including a fantastic caught and bowled by Cameron Gold, Ahmed (42), Mani (32) and Tariq (34no) ensured Timperley reached their target in just 31 overs for the loss of six wickets.

Love, 2-52 off 10 overs, Dave Belfield, 1-1 off 1.2 overs, Frame, 1-18 off 11 overs and Gold, 1-29 off 4, took the wickets.

Langley 2nd XI face an uphill task to retain their position in Cheshire league B East.