Alvanley miss out as clash goes to last over
ALVANLEY Cricket Club’s first XI and their counterparts from Northwich fought out a thrilling game at Frodsham Road on Saturday, a contest whose fortunes swung dramatically one way and another until in the final over the last twist saw the visitors run out winners.
A belting pitch housed this game and Alvanley were grateful to have first bat on it.
Mike Rowlands and Ste Charles batted with caution at first against an accurate spin and seam combination operating with the new ball. Gradually they worked the ball into gaps to lift the rate and then came some crisp bounadries as drinks came with the pair still in command at 91 without loss.
The 28th over saw the first wicket fall as Charles was stumped by Luke Tapsfield over-balancing for a typically aesthetic and hard working 40, Mohammad Ajmal the successful bowler.
Chris Jones looked to up the run-rate with a couple of fine sweeps, a theme continued briefly by Andy Bennion.
The loss of these two, in the same passage of play as Rowlands saw a stark change in fortunes at 142-4.
Rowlands’s 67 was excellent, full of wholesome drives and clever placement and included nine boundaries.
Wickets continued to fall, more a case of throwing wickets away rather than demanding bowling or conditions. Falls at 148-6, 155-7 and 163-8 were well below what is expected and proverbial slapped wrists awaited the middle order.
Arthur Brummitt belied his youthful age with a highly-mature 21 not out, well supported by a disciplined 20 by team- ● mate Lee Ainsworth.
A total of 202-9 was achieved but this was around 30 runs below par in these conditions.
Northwich began confidently against probing new ball bowling from Chris Charles and Ainsworth, with Tapsfield in particularly fine form.
A quick change to spin brought an instant reward as Ste Charles persuaded Gladwin Cherian to find Ben Aveyard’s hands at deep square.
The score moved smoothly to 70 when from nowhere, Jimmy Ecclestone executed a brilliant run-out to remove Chandrika Wathukarage.
Another hefty stand followed as Glinoj Cherian joined Tapsfield.
Skipper Chris Charles tried all options to part them but determined batting won this period of play. Control was never lost and the overs suddenly began to run down.
The return of Ainsworth and the captain swung the game round Alvanley’s way.
Both the mainstays were dismissed by sharp catches in the cordon.
A period of play followed where ball dominated bat.
Lee Evans and opposition captain Mark Walker struggled in dimming light and edges were falling just out of reach at least once an over.
The cordon moved ever closer and Chris Wright was rewarded with a sharp catch to snaffle Evans off an Ainsworth delivery and it was now 176-5 with six overs left.
More tight bowling brought the equation down to 13 off two and when Wright ran out Matthew Dufty for seven, 11 was needed off the last over.
Ainsworth had bowled beautifully but he was to be on the end of the final twist.
Walker, until now circumspect, pressed the gamble button and struck the jackpot, nailing a six and two fours to win the game.
There is work to do for Alvanley who welcome some key players back this coming week at Barrow in the T20 this evening (6pm) and Tattenhall on Saturday afternoon in the league (1pm). They also have a cup clash at Parkfield Liscard on Sunday (1pm). ● IN another exciting encounter, Alvanley’s second string shared the spoils with Northwich’s second XI.
After winning the toss and putting the hosts into bat, Alvanley saw their hosts rattle up 193-9 from their 50 overs. Northwich opener Andrew Pickstock top-scored with 47 while David Summers returned figures of 4-43 to pace the Alvanley attack.
In response, Alvanley just missed out on the win closing their replay on 188-6. A superb 74 from Chris Fletcher led the Alvanley batting with neat knocks too from Michael Weale who made 40 and Mark Entwistle who chipped in with 36.
Matthew Holland was the best of the Northwich bowlers snapping up 3-23 in his 11 productive overs.
The seconds entertain their counterparts from Weaverham on Saturday afternoon (1pm).