Alvanley cruise past Christleton in style
AT last Alvanley fired all their guns and turned their recent run of form around to complete a sixwicket win at home to Christleton last Saturday afternoon.
Asked to field first in more searing heat the bowlers began well, bowling tightly and well backed up in the field.
With Christleton opener Mubashir Hassan trying to hit everything out of the park, it was a matter of time that he would hole out – and he did – caught at long off by Mike Rowlands off Chris Charles for 32.
Fellow opener, Jack Gittens, soon followed, caught by Ste Charles off his brother’s bowling for three.
Joshua Joseph and Atif Bajwa took the score on to 73 but never looked ahead of the game.
Rowlands snicked Bajwa to Andy Bennion at slip and when Joseph edged Lee Ainsworth to wicketkeeper Chris Wright, the game had swung round at 73-4.
Alistair Marks was comprehensively bowled by Ainsworth just two runs later.
A decent stand followed as should be expected on this belting pitch.
Josh Morgan-Jones and a series of partners ran well and put the occasional ball to the boundary.
Despite another great spell from Ste Charles, Christleton got their score reasonably competitive at 193-9 at tea.
Chris Charles impressed for Alvanley’s attack returning figures of 4-61.
Alvanley changed the top of the order and it paid dividends. ●
Bennion and Rowlands opened up and were soon into their stride.
Bennion hit his first four balls for boundaries and the pair added 30 in the first three overs.
Rowlands then took the mantle on and raced past his partner with a series of powerful shots in a wide variety of locations around the ground.
The pair passed 100 in the 20th over when Bennion got a decent ball to edge off for a busy 42. Rowlands passed 50 soon after and the momentum continued until he was out for an impressive 75 leaving Alvanley 134-2.
Jonathon Whitley ensured there was to be no respite for the bowlers playing crisply for 25 but is was left to Chris Charles (18 not out) and Wright (six not out) to bring the 25 points home with plenty of overs and six wickets to spare.