Runcorn beat Middle men and the Mobb too
RUNCORN Cricket Club’s seniors have continued their fine start to the season with both the first and second teams winning and the thirds getting a winning draw against a strong Toft outfit.
The firsts travelled to Middlewich hoping to carry on their good start to the season.
Middlewich won the toss and decided to have a bat. Opening bowlers Dan Booth and Jordan Grobbelaar soon got among the wickets dismissing middlewich’s openers Phil Parry and Ryan Twigg cheaply.
Grobbelaar continued to bowl well and a third wicket soon followed.
Middlewich were struggling at 9-4 when a middle order recovery from Stephen Parry (26), Luke Houghton (28) and Sam Brothers (38) ensured the game was not over before tea.
Runcorn continued to take wickets with Grobbelaar, Booth, Matt Drury and Jack Wignall getting a pair apiece.
Middlewich finished on 142-8 with Gavin Twigg scoring an unbeaten 34.
With a small total to protect, Middlewich were never in the game after openers James Wells (27) and Patrick Tyrrell (18) gave Runcorn the perfect start.
Booth then stepped up to the mark with the willow, and aided by Grobbelaar (11) and Beech (13 not out) hit a fantastic unbowed 67 including nine fours, to win the match in 36.4 overs and give Runcorn the maximum 25 points.
The firsts are third in their league on 71 points, just 14 behind leaders Stockport Georgians.
Runcorn’s seconds played host to Mobberley.
Home skipper Andy Booth won the toss and put Mobberley into bat.
Runcorn’s opening bowlers Phil Conway and Colin Lloyd struggled to get the breakthrough, especially Conway who ● struggled with his line and length at times.
Lloyd was more economical at the other end but it was Conway who struck first with the score on 41 dismissing Connor Stevenson for nine.
This was just what Runcorn needed and more wickets soon followed.
Lloyd got Phil Burrell caught behind by Stu Drury without score.
Lloyd then claimed his second wicket having Mobberley captain Atir Darr caught by Tom Heath for 28.
Mobberley recovered and reached 95 before Matt Keenan had Lee Hargreaves caught at mid-on by Phil Conway.
More wickets began to tumble steadily with the pick of the bowlers being Carl Hargreaves dismissing Abid Ulzain, Nadeem Alam, Kas Mukhadam and John Whittick in quick succession.
With Tom Heath and Matt Keenan chipping in with a wicket each, Mobberley were all out for 130 off just 38 overs.
Hargreaves returned fine figures of 11 overs, two maidens 4-26.
Runcorn just needed a steady start and they knew this game was very winnable – and they got it with openers Mark Cahill (22 including a huge six over the clubhouse) and Mike Bowen (28) putting 42 on for the first wicket.
Bowen and Matt Keenan then took the score onto 60 before the former finally went when caught by Cameron Shaw off a Mukhadam delivery.
Another stand between Keenan and Alan Watt moved the score on to 91 before the latter was caught by Stevenson off Mukhadam once again.
After Keenan went for 27 – caught by Darr off Phil Burrell – Widnes skipper Andy Booth came in and with Liam Keenan they steered Runcorn to victory, Keenan hitting the winning runs with a boundary.
Runcorn finished with 20 points which leaves them in second place with a total of 85, 10 behind leaders Neston on 95.
To round off a great weekend the thirds managed a winning draw at home against a strong Toft team.
This weekend the firsts are at home to Barnton at 1.30pm, while the seconds travel to Woodford, also at 1.30pm.
On Sunday the thirds face a trek to Macclesfield with a 2pm start time.