Runcorn go so close in thrilling encounter
Steve Sheakey was back from Australia to add some lower order firepower to the Runcorn first XI batting on Saturday.
RUNCORN’S cricketers were left an agonisingly one wicket short of pulling off another impressive victory against Hale Barns on Saturday but still made progress up the Cheshire Cricket League Division One table.
The visitors were left clinging on for a draw as their last wicket pair held out to prevent the locals from securing a win against the odds.
Ryan Beech’s men were put into bat and had to endure tricky conditions at a damp Moughland Lane.
Solid contributions throughout the innings came from Dan Booth (40), James Wells (34), Roger Watt (33), and former skipper Steve Sheakey who was back in Runcorn for a holiday from his new home in Australia.
A decent-sized crowd witnessed Sheakey’s first game for three years and he did not disappoint with a quickfire 29 from just 14 balls.
Runcorn posted a formidable 204-9 from 45 overs to secure maximum batting points and handed the ball they immediately began to make inroads into the Hale Barns batting.
Pick of the Runcorn bowlers was DJ McNamara who took 4-29 from nine overs including a wicket in the game’s last over which meant Hale Barns’ last pair had to keep out the final ball of the innings, surrounded by the Runcorn fielders.
New Zealander Nathan McNicol pro- vided a great foundation for the Runcorn attack, capturing 2-52 from 15 overs.
Unfortunately for Runcorn, they could not quite secure the win, but still picked up 15 points and climbed to fifth in the league table, less than a win away from top slot and with a visit to bottom club Poynton their next league game on Saturday afternoon.
Runcorn second XI’s corresponding game with Hale Barns was washed out on Saturday, leaving the second string comfortably in mid-table in their division of the UK Fast League.
Sam Rowland was the star of the third XI’s easy with at New Brighton. Rowland struck an unbeaten 68 as Ian Conway’s men chased down the home side’s total of 187 with four balls to spare. It means the thirds remain top of the Cheshire West County Cricket League.
Runcorn’s U18s completed an excellent week for the club by winning the North Division Cheshire title thanks to a win against Grappenhall and dramatic tie against title rivals Warrington.
Runcorn eased past Grappenhall by 18 runs mainly thanks to an unbeaten 59 from Joe Ruane and 3-16 from Matt Tyrrell, but their clash with second placed Warrington was epic.
Batting first, Runcorn were struggling at 40-6 when Mike Jenner (28) and Alex Smith (15 not out) changed the momen- inset) tum with a stand of 46 to give Runcorn a total of 89-7 from 20 overs.
Only a superb fielding and bowling performance would do and that is just what was delivered but the home team.
Tyrrell produced excellent figures of 1-5 off four overs and Runcorn’s fielders ensured that the Warrington batsmen were not allowed to settle. The game looked lost, however, when at the start of the last over only five runs were required.
But skipper Jack Beech kept his nerve brilliantly to concede just four from the last six balls to secure the sharing of the points and the league title with a game to spare.