Sad news precedes S&B’s away victory Illness and death of a home club member overshadows event
FOR at least a couple of hours on Saturday morning the idea of playing cricket was far from the minds of everyone at The Ainsdale Club.
The news that a senior club member had suffered a heart attack while watching a lunchtime game of bowls halted the preparations for the game between the home side and Southport and Birkdale. Some players, including the visiting captain, Adam Phillips, offered their assistance and a defibrillator was used.
Two ambulances were called and the gentleman was taken to hospital where, so it became known much later, he passed away. The sympathy of everyone at Trafalgar Road goes to his relatives and friends.
After a number of discussions between officials and players it was decided that a 30-over game should go ahead although it was probably difficult for some home players to keep their minds on sport.
Nevertheless, it would be wrong to ascribe S&B’s 53-run victory to extraneous factors; much better, indeed, to reflect on a performance that was full of discipline and perseverance, qualities that only became even more evident in the final hour of the game when the weather grew colder and light rain began to fall.
Reduced to 39 for five by some fine spin bowling from Martyn Farrell and Stuart Naden, S&B managed to post 127 for eight in their 30 overs, with Charlie Byrne playing perhaps his most mature and intelligent innings for the club.
Byrne’s 35 off 48 balls held his side’s effort together when it could have disintegrated but he was greatly helped by Sam Regan, who helped him add 36 for the sixth wicket, and then by Tobias Lea, who finished unbeaten on 20 after hitting just one of his 23 balls to the boundary.
It is at least reasonable to argue that Regan and Lea might have struggled to gain a place in S&B’s full-strength team, as it was envisaged last winter. Yet both young cricketers have grabbed their chances and enjoyed successful late summers, Lea even adding a run out and a good low catch to his credit column when Ainsdale batted. On Saturday he also scored more runs than his much-garlanded elder brother, although he is far too much of a gent to mention the fact.
A few meaty blows by Chris Cunningham gave Phillips’ bowlers the total they defended with immense resilience. Chris Firth took the vital wicket of Stephen Lucas early in the piece, Andy Warhurst bowled with great control to concede 11 runs in six overs and the other members of the attack allowed Ainsdale’s batsmen little respite.
Tom Wainwright lifted Cunningham for two huge sixes but he was one of four wickets taken by the offspinner as the required run-rate climbed. Angus Gailey was one of only three quicker bowlers used in the match but still managed to take two wickets. Phillips caught Sam White’s steepler to end the game and that fine effort completed a fielding display which never lacked for effort or quality.
And S&B’s ground fielding may have been the best thing about their cricket on Saturday. A side can so often judged by its collective determination to save runs and in this respect Phillips’ team could not be faulted. There are no doubt harder, longer days to come next summer – everyone hopes so – but if S&B show the same toughness in Premier League cricket, they will salvage a few lost causes and cheer people up.
S&B’s second team defeated their Ainsdale counterparts by 58 runs at Trafalgar Road on Saturday. Dave Aston’s unbeaten 68 and Nick Devlin’s 51 enabled the home side to post 206 for seven in 45 overs and Mike Lightbown’s four for 21 limited the visitors to 148 for nine. Phil Causey’s 63-ball 71 included four sixes and offered late resistance.
S&B
Phillips b Farrell I Lea c Thompson b Naden Carney b Naden Rankin b Naden Byrne st Thompson b Farrell Gailey c S Lucas b Friar Regan c Friar b Green T Lea not out Firth b Farrell Cunningham Extras TOTAL (for 8 wkts) not out
FOW: 1-11 2-22 3-30 4-31 5-39 6-75 7-99 8-108
White 3-0-18-0 Farrell 6-0-24-3 Naden 6-0-13-3 Friar 6-0-15-1 Green 3-0-29-1 S Lucas 6-0-23-0
AINSDALE
Barlow run out S Lucas lbw Firth M Lucas c T Lea b Warhurst Green b Cunningham Fitzpatrick c Phillips b Byrne Wainwright b Cunningham Friar st Carney b Cunningham Naden lbw Cunningham Thompson b Gailey Farrell not out White c Phillips b Gailey Extras TOTAL
FOW: 1-5 2-12 3-18 4-27 5-50 6-68 7-68 8-69 9-71 10-74 8 7 10 5 35 4 12 20 3 11 12 127
Warhurst 6-3-11-1 Firth 3-1-3-1 Byrne 6-0-26-1 Cunningham 6-1-24-4 Gailey 2.5-0-9-2