Seconds shine but the firsts miss out again
RUNCORN Cricket Club’s first XI were left to lick their wounds on Saturday as visitors Haslington inflicted a five-wickets defeat.
Looking to recover from their loss from the week before, Runcorn skipper James Wells called the coin flip correctly and elected to bat first.
Unfortunately for Wells and his team they did not get the start they had hoped for and lost two quick wickets with Patrick Tyrrell and Dan Booth both departing with only six runs on the board.
Runcorn’s young overseas player, Jordan Grobbelaar, came in next at four and with the help of his captain moved the score onto 84 before Wells was caught by Ben Pilkington off a Tom Gledhill delivery for 32.
Grobbelaar continued to bat well but unfortunately his teammates could notmatch his form with the bat with only Will Magee (12), Jack Beech (14) and Sam Rowland (22) getting into double figures.
Runcorn were eventually dismissed for 188 after 45 overs, with Grobbelaar scoring 81, a knock which featured a dozen boundaries and a six.
In response, Runcorn started well with Grobbelaar claiming the wicket of opener Matthew Kennerley-Ryan caught behind the stumps by Patrick Tyrrell for five.
Haslington recovered well and moved onto 52 before spinner Mathew Tyrrell bowled Joel Unsworth for 29.
Two more wickets followed for the same bowler as Haslington stumbled slightly to 81-4. ●
Just when Runcorn thought they had got back in the game the Haslington middle order in the shape of Jack Moran (38), Ben Istead (48), Tom Hackett (29) and Gledhill (36 not out) steered them to victory as they finished on 191-5 in 43.2 overs.
Mathew Tyrrell’s return of 3-50 from his 10 overs of work was the best of the Runcorn bowlers.
This result leaves Runcorn in fifth place in the UKFAST Cheshire Cricket League Division One on 46 points after the opening three games. ● Runcorn’s second XI travelled to face their counterparts from Haslington in confident mood after their demolition of Romiley the previous week.
Haslington won the toss and decided to have a bat. They started well with opener Jordan Sealey scoring 22 before being trapped lbw by Colin Lloyd.
The wickets began to tumble quickly with Carl Hargreaves picking up four of the next five to fall, the other being a run out executed by Mike Jenner, leaving Haslington on 65-6.
Runcorn continued to dominate with the ball with Tom Heath, Liam Keenan and Matt Keenan with a pair picking up the remaining wickets.
Hargreaves led the Runcorn attack returning figures of 4-24 from 10 overs, three of which being maidens.
In reply, Runcorn were never in serious danger with openers Mike Bowen (19) and Jenner (35) putting their team in the driving seat by getting them to 83-2.
Alan Watt was caught by Oliver Williams off Callum Istead for one so it was left to the Keenan brothers Matt (29 not out) and Liam (10 not out) to get Runcorn over the line finishing on a matchwinning 108-3 off just 26 overs.
This result leaves Runcorn in third place in the UKFAST Cheshire Cricket League Division A on 65 points behind Neston (75) and Mobberley (70). ● Runcorn third XI’s game against Elworth was cancelled due to Runcorn being unable to field a team. ● This weekend’s games sees the first XI on their travels to Middlewich on Saturday. Players should meet at 11.50am for a midday departure. Also on Saturday the second XI entertain their counterparts from Mobberley while on Sunday Runcorn’s third string play host to Toft’s third XI.