Consistency key to next season as Wids fail to chase Chester BH

CHESHIRE CCL 1ST XI PREM WEST

CHESTER BOUGHTON HALL .... 233/6 WIDNES ................................... 178 (37.4)

CHESTER BH WON BY 88 RUNS

WIDNES went into their last match of the season looking to improve on their previous week’s loss to Cheadle – this time against high flying Chester Broughton Hall.

Once again James McCoy was unavailable together with Chris Kirby, which presented opportunities for Owen Price and Will Myers to stake their claim for a first team place. The loss of McCoy and Kirby significantly reduced the sides batting fire power and captain Tom Evans had to heavily rely on his bowlers to bowl economically.

Chester however won the toss and elected to bat on a good wicket and quick outfield.

Openers Moore and Goodwin have been in good form all season and quickly asserted their dominance over the Widnes attack.

The 50 came up after just 68 balls and although Goodwin was smartly stumped by Myers of Majeed for 29, Moore went on to reach his 50 with six 4s.

Lee Dixon joined Alex Money following the wicket of Moore, caught in the deep by Burns having made 56. Money cashed in on some pretty average Widnes bowling and by the time Dixon was smartly run out by Evans the score had raced on to 137. Well supported by Jones,

Money looked set for a hundred before he was well caught by Parkinson for 96 off just 77 balls. The everreliable Parkinson took three wickets in the last over as the Chester innings closed on 233 from their 40 overs.

This looked a daunting total for the weakened Widnes batting line-up and so it proved, but not before some fine batting from some of the Widnes up and coming players.

Majeed and Alex Hewitt opened the innings and the latter followed up his good form at Neston the previous week.

Despite the loss of the out-of-form Majeed for eight, Hewitt played the quick bowling very well and showed he can hold down a higher order place next season.

Together with Luke McCoy the score advanced to 67 before Hewitt was caught on the boundary for 42 of 51 balls.

The in-form Burns joined McCoy and with both playing shots all round the wicket Widnes were up with the required run rate. With McCoy happy to push the ones and twos it was left to Burns to play the big shots and he didn’t disappoint.

The 50 partnership came up in just 55 balls and both batsmen looked untroubled by some accurate bowling by Williams and Fleet. It was therefore unexpected when McCoy, shuffled across his stumps and was LBW to Jones for 31. McCurdy joined Burns, who went to his well-deserved 50 with seven 4s and two 6s.

With Widnes hopes raised, Burns went for one big shot too many and was caught on the boundary for 58 and with his departure went Widnes’s chances. From 150 for 4 Widnes quickly subsided to 166 for 9. Parkinson was last out for seven leaving Myers not out for an untroubled six. 178 runs may win some matches but is very unlikely to cause Chester any issues.

After the match captain Evans reflected on the performances over the season of the McCoys, Hewitts and Burns and the feeling of optimism for next year. Fast bowler Aaron Soni will be quicker and stronger next year and McCurdy and Mitchell should be pushing for first team places.

Evans and Majeed topped the season’s wicket haul with 15 apiece. James McCoy topped the batting averages with 49 and Andy Burns scored 251 runs.

The skipper conceded that his team needs to become more consistent next season. Widnes played well in parts of matches but seldom were able to combine batting, fielding and bowling to the high standard required in the Premier League. The Widnes cricket committee, together with Evans, will need to solve this problem for when cricket returns next season.