Win sets up huge game

LANGLEY 1st XI made the long journey to the Wirral at the weekend and after a tense finale went home with a hard-fought victory.

Skipper Alex Berzins won the toss and from then on he was to endure a torrid afternoon.

After a Churchill-like team talk from the skipper, Adam Cartwright and Berzins opened the bowling, Cartwright bowled a tidy first opener.

The skipper ran in with bundles of energy storming in only to bowl 2 beamers. As the team looked around in shock the umpires removed the skipper from the attack much to the amusement of several unnamed players.

Cartwright restored a degree of normality bowling Johnson, 1. Matty Betteridge replaced the skipper and with total on 24 he had Jones 6 caught behind by Pat Horgan.

Clewes and Lewis dug in struggle as James Bennet and David Frame restricted them. The shackles were finally broken when Bennet struck twice in 2 balls he caught and bowled Lewis 24 and then trapped Henwood LBW first ball, in his next over Bennet forced the stubborn Clewes, 24, to mistime a drive and Olly Wheelton took a comfortable catch as the Wirral struggled to 63-5 off 30 overs.

Credit to Hooks who hit out almost immediatley, together with Peel the duo added 48.

Betteridge then returned picking up 3 quick wickets bowling Peel, 17, Morris, 4, was caught in the covers and Mayers, 4, was bowled.

Hooks, 48, was eventually bowled by Cartwright in the final over as the Wirral posted 138-9 off their 45 overs.

For Langley Betteridge 4-33 off 12 overs, Bennet 3-15 off 10 overs, Cartwright 2-35 off 10 overs and Frame 0-28 off 10 overs all bowled well.

In reply Langley lost both openers early on as Paully Morgan, 0, caught behind second ball and Zak Howdle, 1, was LBW.

Bennet and Horgan fought back.

Horgan was especially ruthless striking several huge blows.

The score reached 67 when Bennet 23 miscued and the keeper took an easy catch.

Wheelton joined Horgan and the pair continued the good work, Horgan reaching 50 off just 30 balls.

He perished on 51 caught in the deep. Wheelton, 16, fell in similar fashion and when Cartwright, 0, was bowled second ball the game was in the balance as Langley wobbled to 94-6.

Betteridge and veteran Steve Whittingham fought hard, the latter hitting 2 huge sixes while Betteridge dug in.

Whittingham, 22, though played across the line once to many times and was bowled with the score on 122-7.

Chris Pattison hit 10 off 4 balls but he to miscued and presented a simple catch to the keeper.

With the score on 133-8 and 6 still needed, skipper Berzins strolled to the wicket, determined to see Langley to victory – however, 2 balls later he was walking off the pitch as he was caught in the deep.

Frame joined Betteridge with the Wirral sensing victory.

But Langley were not to be denied as Betteridge hit a drive and the batsman scampered 2 runs as Langley closed on 139-9 off just 28.2 overs.

Betteridge, 16no, completed a fine all round display and Frame, 1no, saw Langley home.

A fantastic game played in great spirits, credit to both sides.

Langley drop to third and trail Appleton by 2 points, the pair meet next week at Cockhall Lane in what should be a great match.

Langley 2nd XI suffered another setback as they could muster only 110 at home to league leaders, Didsbury, who then reached 111-3 in what was an easy win. Langley face a huge battled to avoid relegation.