Runcorn edged out as tough start continues
ANOTHER fine Saturday at Moughland Lane saw Runcorn host league newcomers Stockport CC looking to make it back to back wins in the league after victory in the T20 cup on Thursday at higher division side Warrington.
Captain Will Magee strolled out for the toss, won by the visitors, where Runcorn were asked to bat. A few changes to the Runcorn side saw Mike Jenner join James Wells opening the batting, and things didnt get off to a great start for the hosts, with Jenner knicking off to second slip for just two runs.
Skipper Magee then joined Wells – however, he would suffer a similar fate, caught behind for the same disappointing score. Runcorn were struggling at 34-2.
Some resistance was found courtesy of Wells, who despite seeing partners fall around him, managed to dig in past the moving new ball, and eventually take the attack to the Stockport bowlers.
Wells though was eventually bowled, off the bowling of Naveed Gondal, for a well made 33.
And it was the bowling of Gondal that would eventually prove to be Runcorn’s undoing, as he steamrolled through the middle order, with only a flowing 23 from Jack Beech any score of note.
Having been 83-3, Runcorn found themselves 96-9 and staring down the barrel of a third defeat of the season.
The home side’s tail still had some wag in it yet though, as keeper Sam Rowland and young Liam Ratcliffe, on just his third 1st XI appearance, put on 33 for the final wicket, scoring 12 runs each to rally Runcorn to 126 before Gondal managed to grab his sixth wicket and end with figures of 6-22.
That left Runcorn with an absolute mountain to climb.
However the innings got off to a solid start for Runcorn, with opening bowler Matt Drury trapping the Stockport captain Zafar Jatoi LBW for just 6.
And Drury, backed up by his brother Tom, continued to chip away with regular wickets.
The Drurys with four wickets between them (three for Matt, one for Tom) battled hard for Runcorn, but Taimoor Malik rode his luck and eventually scraped his was to 50, which all but sealed victory for the visitors.
Malik was dismissed before the end, with Stockport needing just one run, which came shortly after in the form of byes, summing up Runcorn’s day.
Captain Magee stated after the game: “It has been a difficult start to our league campaign, with undoubtedly we are not scoring enough runs.
“But I do believe our games are coming down to fine margins, which when they start to fall our way, will see us start to pick up better results.”
Runcorn have the perfect opportunity next Saturday, when they travel to fellow slow starters Barnton hoping to turn their fortunes around.