Widnes fall short in final-game run chase
● NANTWICH ................................. 216ao WIDNES........................................ 206ao to tumble at the other end, following the introduction of leading wicket taker Majid Majeed and his able partner, Qamar Hafiz.
Johnson, Cook-Stevewright, and Stockton quickly departed and with the score on 68 for 8 the Widnes openers, McCoy and Moore, could have been forgiven for turning their attention to a fine tea and improving their averages.
Enter Oliver Griffiths, who had only one thing on his mind.
This was hitting the Widnes attack out of the ground.
With able support from Spencer, Griffiths smashed a quick fire hundred of just 64 balls with 10 fours and 6 sixes.
When Spencer was dismissed for 28, the score had moved on to 174.
Griffiths was last man out for 110 off just 68 balls with the score on 216.
Soni was the pick of the Widnes bowlers with 3 for 38 .
Unlike the Brexit process, Widnes wasted little time in building their reply.
McCoy having excelled in the field, set about the Nantwich bowlers with the freedom he has expressed all season.
It was therefore a surprise to the sizable Beaconsfield Road crowd, that he was dismissed by Spencer for 30 off 34 balls.
With the total on 58 Moore fell to Stockton, which brought together the two most consistent Widnes batsmen, Campbell and Shahbaz Bashir.
Playing in what is most likely his final match for the club before a possible move to Durham CCC, Campbell looked in fine touch.
Having scored 31 off just 27 balls he “played on” off the bowling of Doyle.
Widnes needed just one batsman to go on and make a substantial score.
Majeed looked as though he could be that man, but Luke Robinson had other ideas.
He dismissed Bashir and Majeed for 24 and 27 respectively and with the aid of a spectacular catch by Warrington at mid on, dismissed Alex Hewitt for 12.
Together with Aaron Soni, the hard hitting, Qamar added a brisk 15 before becoming Spencer’s second victim.
A total of 23 more runs were needed when Captain Tom Evans came to the crease and hopes were high that he could see Widnes over the winning line.
With Soni looking untroubled at the other end the score advanced to 206 when Evans fell LBW to Spencer for 3.
Last man Parkinson had been faced with last wicket challenges earlier in the season and had successfully steered the team home.
This time he faced only one ball, before being caught off the bowling of Spencer, and Widnes fell 11 runs shot of victory.
Captain Evans had much to ponder after the game.
Having Nantwich at 66 for 8 at one stage, victory should have been assured.
The fact that no Widnes batsman could impose himself on the Nantwich attack was disappointing.
All the key batsmen “got in” but none were able to go past 40.
Once again, Soni performed well with both bat and ball and will only improve with experience.
Speaking about the season as a whole, Evans was pleased with his teams efforts.
The step up to premier league cricket cannot be overexaggerated and to finish the season in mid table was a good effort in the first season back in the top flight.
Evans has lead the team well and engendered a good team spirit, which has made the team difficult to beat.
Hopes are therefore high for next year.
The Widnes hierarchy will be working hard over the winter months to encourage and develop more senior players and youngsters in order to strengthen the first team squad and whole playing cadre.
It was also a good year for the second XI.
Under the experienced guidance of Phil Catterall ,the team was only denied promotion on the last week of the season.
Phil has galvanised, a mixture of youth and experience into a very competitive team.
Further announcements will be made in the coming weeks regarding winter nets and new players are welcome to join the club.
The club intends to establish a regular 3rd team for the 2020 season, together with junior teams, so there will be ample opportunities for cricketers of all abilities to get involved.