Hall too much as Widnes beaten in cup competition
THE challenges are coming thick and fast for a Widnes side low on confidence and short of
runs.
Chester Boughton Hall were the visitors to Beaconsfield Road in the second round of the Cheshire Cup and were looking to get on top of a Widnes side which had gained a surprising draw in the league just a few weeks earlier.
McCurdy was drafted in for the unavailable McCoy and Matty Burns was not risked due to a hamstring strain. Alex Hewitt was still struggling with a foot injury.
Chester BH won the toss and decided to make first use of a sound surface and quick outfield. Matt Parkinson opened the bowling and was quickly rewarded with the wicket of Ollie Law who was caught behind by the improving Kirby.
This brought in Jamie Crawley to join opener Warren Goodwin and the scoreboard was soon ticking over with Goodwin in particular playing some neat drives and cuts.
When the score had moved on to 77 the ever reliable Majid Majeed dismissed Goodwin and then bowled Crawley for 43.
At 98 for three Widnes were still in the game.
However, a quick fire 82 by Alex Money off just 77 balls and 27 from Harry Killoran turned the game in Chester’s favour. Qamar removed Money and Tom Evans dismissed the dangerous Dixon without scoring.
Aspin was joined in the middle by the hard hitting Richard Moore and the score quickly moved to 250 with Moore not out at the end of the allotted 45 over with 36 off just 17 balls.
Evans managed to get the wicket of Aspin for 20 and the innings concluded on 254.
Only Majeed returned bowling figures of any credit. His nine overs only relinquished 23 runs, taking two wickets. Few teams batting second ● have chased down a score in excess of 250 in the Cheshire cup.
A solid start was an essential requirement. Unfortunately opener Chris Kirby totally ignored this convention and decided to charge the opening bowler Killoran and was smartly stumped by Nash for a duck.
Shabaz Bashir joined Majeed who had been promoted to open the innings with the aim of rebuilding the innings. Plan B made some progress with Basir, in particular, playing some cultured drives however Widnes’s fortunes flopped for old money when Bashir was dismissed by Money for 24 off 20 balls.
Majeed soon followed after a patient 23. Johnathan Campbell and Sean Moore again set about rebuilding the innings but Campbell soon became the first of four victims for Jack Williams.
Moore made a rapid 31 of just 22 balls and looked very much like a quality batsman, if he can add greater consistency to his game.
Pace bowlers Soni and Qamar batted with no little skill but both fell for 17.
McCurdy was beaten by the spin of Williams and skipper Evans hit two nice boundaries before becoming Ollie Laws first wicket.
All out for 153, Widnes had the demeanour of a team still seeking to find its best combinations with both bat and ball.
For the Widnes youngsters, it’s a steep learning curve but they are bound to benefit from playing against one of the top premier league teams and will improve for the experience.