Alvanley show fighting spirit but are beaten by Brooklands

ALVANLEY Cricket Club’s first XI suffered their first defeat at the hands of Brooklands but made a good fight of it after an indifferent opening.

After getting their wish at the toss, Alvanley were happy to take to the crease first on a pitch that looked like it would be slow and could break up.

Ste Charles and Mike Rowlands opened up but apart from the odd play and miss, looked in good touch adding 20 for the first wicket when the former was adjudged not to have edged the ball on to his pad and was sent on his way lbw to Tom Mitchell.

Rowlands then departed, caught behind by Ali Buchan off Mitchell again and when Chris Wright trudged off after making four, Alvanley were in trouble at 35-3.

Jonno Whitley was making the game look easy with a number of fluent drives but wickets continued to fall.

Simon Gee flipped a catch to David Madden at midwicket off AJ Hart and Chris Jones was bowled for a duck by Mitchell.

Whitley, eased into the 20s but then got the ball of the day, as AJ Hart got one to rear at him from a length.

Andy Bennion soon followed him back to the pavilion, and at 50-7, the game looked gone.

Chris Charles was joined by Jimmy Ecclestone, both batting for the first time this season. They carefully covered the variable bound and lateral movement and gradually nudged the score up.

Ecclestone got too ambitious and joined the procession of batsmen caught in the ring, but Lee Ainsworth carried on his good work in keep his captain company.

Chris Charles was in control, defending well, running cheeky singles. Ainsworth added the mightiest of sixes to edge past 100 but he soon perished, caught behind by Buchan off a Christian Potter delivery. A few lusty blows from Chris Charles took the score to 117 before he was bowled for an excellent 40 by Potter and an early tea was taken.

Brooklands came out swinging in their reply.

Too ambitiously really, as Chris Charles found steep bounce and the edge found the flying Gee to complete a brilliant catch and get Alvanley rolling.

The flogging continued and the score careered to 43-1 in the seventh over without Alvanley doing much wrong.

This approach became Brooklands’ undoing as wickets began to tumble.

Rowlands struck with his first ball, the excellent catch completed by Ste Charles to send Kevin Carroll packing for 26.

Ainsworth’s introduction brought speedy rewards as he sent down a series of impressive overs.

This combination reduced Brooklands to 55-5 and it was game on.

A stand between Chris Hart and AJ Hart frustrated Alvanley for a while, but half chances and near misses littered this passage of play.

Eventually luck went with Alvanley as Ecclestone found the edge and Chris Hart went for 32, the catch taken by Gee and it was now 75-6.

AJ Hart continued to ride his luck, interspersed with some fine shots and he, in combination with the gutsy Mark Law, nudged their way to the win as they reached 118-6.

Credit to Alvanley bowlers but to win games like these, the tough chances have to be taken.

Stockport are next, followed by Hawk Green away in the NVKO on Sunday and Christleton in the T20 Cup a week today. ● GIRLS’ cricket gets a huge boost at Alvanley – see page 45.