The bragging rights belong to Bollington
A REMARKABLE sporting weekend that reached the grandest of finales on Sunday evening when England, by hook and by crook, edged past New Zealand to win the ICC World Cup had started on Saturday when Bollington 1st XI beat neighbours Macc at The Rec.
The weather was overcast and the strip a touch on the green side. Macc, having won the toss, decided to bowl first in favourable conditions.
Aussie Caleb Ziebell blasted 120 in his previous encounter against Macc, but this time he was more circumspect as the ball darted this way and that.
Skipper Rick Hough and Ziebell mitigated a tricky first 10 overs and then started to open up as batting became easier.
Ziebell played his trademark cover drives whilst Hough picked off the bowlers whenever they missed their line and length.
By the 20th over Bolly were up to 80 runs without the loss of any wickets.
Ziebell then brought up his 50 as Macc toiled away in search of their first wicket.
With Bolly going strong it was time for Hough to bring out the ‘Hoof Scoop’ (similar to the famous ‘Dilshan Scoop’) which he initially played with great effect.
The score eased past 150 as Hough brought up his fourth halfcentury of the season.
In the blink of an eye Ziebell was approaching the century mark. In the 39th over he dropped it into the legside and called Hough through for the single to take him to a well compiled 100.
The partnership, which had reached 180 runs, was finally ended when the ‘Hoof Scoop’ failed for the first time and Hough had to depart for a well made 63.
In to the final 10 overs and it was time to put peddle to the metal. Ziebell effortlessly launched a couple of sixes propelling the score further.
At the other end wickets were lost at regular intervals but not before the incoming batman were able to find the boundaries a few times.
On 125, Ziebell’s brilliant innings finally came to end.
Some more late hitting from Cam Mackinnon and Tom Horsfield brought the score up to an impressive 264-6.
Bolly came out of the sheds with aggression and determination knowing the first 10 overs of the second innings would be crucial.
They dismantled the top order with a combination of pace and swing.
Ziebell and Horsfield bowled stump to stump with almost every ball seeming to hit the batsman’s pads or finding the edge of the bat.
Macc found themselves 20-5, the talismanic Ben Stokes-esque Ziebell dismissing the top three and Horsfield claiming the fourth and fifth wicket.
The celebrations were put on hold momentarily, as former Bolly player James Cross fought fire with fire taking on the seam bowlers.
He crashed the ball to all parts and brought up a quick and well deserved 50.
Enter left-arm spinner Toby Phipps, who quickly reasserted Bollington’s dominance.
He got the prize wicket of James Cross who fell to one big shot too many.
Then he took two wickets in consecutive deliveries to take Bollington two wickets away from a massive win.
Phipps finished with impressive figures of 3-9 off 5 overs.
There was brief resistance from the number 10 batsman, but Stu Pant did the rest cleaning up the tail to bowl Macc out for 115, handing Bollington a 150 run vitroy and a big 25 points.