Rob joy with five-for as Widnes power on
WIDNES Cricket Club first XI entertained Barrow in the Cheshire County Cricket League First Division at Beaconsfield Road last Saturday.
The hosts were hoping their recent good run of form was going to be maintained as well as the spell of fine weather.
Saturday also saw batsman James McCoy return to the Widnes ranks having had a lengthy spell at Grappenhall.
Barrow won the toss and Tom Evans’s team were asked to bowl first.
Barrow were no doubt hoping the hot weather would cause Widnes to wilt in the heat.
At first, Barrow’s plan seemed to be working with openers David McClements and Gareth Hughes taking the total nicely onto 77 in the 23rd over until the latter was given out lbw for 25 off Majid Majeed’s bowling.
Three overs later, McClements’s wicket fell. Having scored 48 off 80 balls, he was caught by Majeed off a Rob Magee delivery.
With two new batsmen at the crease Widnes now exerted pressure.
Jahangir Afridi was run out by Johnathan Campbell for nine before Chris Woodcock was stumped by Chris Kirby off Magee for one.
Five wickets were down in the 40th over with the score on 131 when Ryan Holloway was bowled by Magee for eight.
Three overs later, Barrow captain Phil Johnson was bowled by Majeed for 13, with the score now on 182.
In the 43rd over, Stephen Ogilby was the seventh wicket to fall, caught on the boundary by McCoy off Magee once again for 49.
Magee claimed his fifth wicket in the 50th and final over having Lee Dwyer stumped by Kirby for 15.
Barrow posted 194-8 from their 50 overs at the crease with Magee’s superb 5-60 the highlight of the Widnes bowling attack.
Widnes replied to the Barrow innings with Kirby and McCoy opening the batting. The pair soon took the attack to the Barrow bowlers putting on 38 until the sixth over when Kirby was caught and bowled by Holloway.
Mike Byrne joined McCoy and the score moved on to 69 when the former was run out for four.
Matt Burns now joined McCoy who soon reached his half century.
However, McCoy then fell, caught by Dwyer off Malcolm Barrow’s bowling having scored 67 off just 58 balls, an innings which featured 13 boundaries.
Campbell now joined Burns and the total moved onto 113 when the latter was trapped lbw for 10 by Barrow.
Majeed then took up batting with Campbell and the duo managed to guide the Widnes innings over the winning line in the 35th over.
Majeed finished 43 not out off 45 balls hitting eight fours and while Campbell made an undefeated 47 smashing seven fours and one six. ● WIDNES’S second XI lost at Stockport Georgians last Saturday.
Batting first, Widnes scored 159-8 in their 50 overs, James Wearden top scoring. Stockport Georgians surpassed the Widnes total whilst only losing four wickets along the way. ● THIS Saturday sees second-placed Upton playing at Widnes. Although scheduled for a 1pm start, the game may be brought forward due to England’s World Cup quarter-final clash with Sweden which kicks-off at 3pm.
Likewise, the second XI travel to Upton and may also be starting earlier than scheduled. ●