Fourie to the fore as Widnes hit out to win
AMAGNIFICENT run chase at Urmston secured Widnes victory and 25 points in the Vivio Cheshire County First Division.
On arrival Widnes found a beautiful batting wicket and a lightning fast outfield. Judging it would be most difficult to bowl out a strong Urmston batting line-up, Widnes skipper Chris Kirby elected to field having won the toss.
They had an early succcess when Sean Moore had home captain Calum Turner caught behind by his skipper for four.
Chris Watson (35) and Lewis Jackson (36) added 58 for the second wicket, the former caught at slip by Matty Burns giving Sean Moore his second wicket.
This only served to bring Sumit Panda to the crease and he immediately took command scoring freely all round the ground.
Widnes replaced Sean Moore and Fayaz Ughradar with the medium pace of Danny Moore and the spin of Marcus Fourie.
With the score on 104, Moore managed to trap Jackson lbw.
However this was the signal for Panda to increase the tempo and despite losing Chris Turner for 24, caught behind by Kirby off Fourie he surged on past his century striking 17 boundaries and five sixes.
With 261-4 on the board after 48 overs Urmston skipper Turner judged he had sufficient runs to declare.
Panda remained 122 not out off just 96 balls faced while Shannon Howie made a quickfire unbowed 30.
Burns and Ughradar opened the batting for Widnes taking the score on to 24 before the former was out lbw to Calum Turner for 14.
Fourie joined Ughradar and together they put on 107 before the latter was caught at mid-on off Ian Grindley for 64, ● his innings included nine boundaries and two sixes.
Sean Moore joined Fourie who began to dominate in a similar fashion to Panda. He and Moore added 120 of which Moore made just 36 before the South African all-rounder fell in similar fashion to Ughradar for 124.
His knock contained 17 boundaries and three maximums. With only 11 runs required for victory, Alex Hewitt decided to finish matters in style a pair of sixes. Moore remained 40 not out and Widnes had reached their target with four overs to spare.
This Saturday Widnes welcome Upton to Beaconsfield Road (1pm). ● Widnes’s second XI lost at home to their counterparts from Urmston.
Batting first, Widnes made 212-8 with Tim Wearden making 90, Daniel Wearden 26, Sean Anders 24 and Phil Catterall and James Wearden each scoring 20. Urmston secured victory off the first ball of the final over.
They were indebted to Ritesh Shetty with 81 and skipper Steve Espley who remained 38 not out as the visitors reached their target for the loss of eight wickets.
Tom Evans was the most successful Widnes bowler with 4-58. Tom Keen took 3-74.
This Saturday the seconds travel to Cheadle. Sunday sees the thirds at home to New Brighton.