Runcorn’s sides keep their 20/20 title vision
ONLY the poor summer weather seems to be able to stop Runcorn’s cricketers at the moment. Although the awful summer of 2016 resulted in a washout of both the first and second XI games against Stockport Georgians at the weekend, the men from Moughland Lane have booked their places in the UK Fast Cheshire Cricket Cup semi-finals with both the first XI and second-team stoutly defending their T/20 titles won last summer.
The first XI eased into the last four of the cup competition with a crushing 78-run win at Barnton, as Jack Wignall starred with both bat and ball.
Wignall top scored with 26 crucial lower order runs as Runcorn recovered from a stuttering start to post a very com- petitive 153 from their 20 overs.
Teammates Jack Weston struck 21 and Roger Watt made 17 as Runcorn repaired the damage of being 86-7.
And Wignall also recorded the best bowling figures with 3-10 from 3.3 overs as Runcorn produced another top class bowling and fielding performance to dismiss Barnton for just 75.
Skipper Ryan Beech picked up three wickets himself and Kiwi quick bowler Nathan McNicol recorded the miserly figures of 1-5 from his four overs.
Runcorn now travel to Kingsley in the semi-finals of the competition a week tonight – Thursday, July 21.
The first-team are back in league action on Saturday when they face Hale Barns at Moughland Lane on Saturday afternoon (1.30pm start).
The second XI produced back-to-back cup victories in the space of a week to earn their semi-final berth.
A six-wicket win at Kingsley was mirrored by a similar success at Wirral, with the locals comfortably chasing down modest targets in both games after excellent bowling performances in difficult conditions.
Runcorn limited Kingsley to 84 and Wirral to 79 and then reached their targets for the loss of just four wickets in the two games.
In the first match at Kingsley, Jack Beech (32) and Phil Saunders (12) saw the team home with a fine unbeaten partnership.
At Wirral, Mark Cahill and Alan Watt complied an unbeaten half century partnership to secure their last four game with Chester Boughton Hall at home on July 26.
Runcorn’s third team remain top of their division in the Cheshire County League after visitors Winnington Park conceded the game at Mougland Lane.
Meanwhile, Runcorn’s U18s showed the club’s strength in depth by recording a tremendous win double to go to the top of the North Division in the county league.
The youngsters defeated Widnes and Barnton at home in the space of three days.
Skipper Jack Beech was the top performer in the 48-run triumph against Barnton, scoring 46 and taking 4-15, while Joe Ruane and Dan Booth both scored 36 and Matt Tyrrell took 2-10 in the seven-wicket win over Widnes.
With three games left in the league season, the U18s know that two wins will give them the title.