Opponents let off hook again
FOR the second successive week, Widnes – having set a substantial first innings score – could not take 10 wickets to secure victory.
Setting Nantwich 269 to win, following some lusty late hitting by Qamar Hafiz, Widnes were in prime position, only for the home side to chase down the runs required with nine balls remaining.
Widnes, having won the toss and electing to bat first, were forced into making a change to the regular opening partnership due to Chris Kirby having injured his finger earlier in the week.
Aaron Soni stepped forward but could only make 11 before becoming Jimmy Warrington’s first victim of a five-wicket haul. Chughtai was caught off Griffith for 17 and Burns fell without troubling the scorer, leaving Widnes 36 for 3.
Rohan Luthra became Warrington’s second victim, having made 8, leaving Widnes with a mountain to climb on what was a good pitch.
A short break for rain and hail seemed to revive the Widnes batsmen. Kieran Maher in particular looked in good touch, and found a willing partner in Alex Hewitt.
Batting with fluency, Maher passed his fifty with ease and the duo built a 120 run partnership.
Having rotated his bowlers, Nantwich skipper Doyle was forced to bring back opening bowler Warrington to slow the run rate.
After moving to 84, Maher was deceived by a slower ball from Warrington and was caught at mid off by a diving Robinson.
Hewitt then took charge. Despite losing partners Curlett, Price and McCurdy for a combined 14 runs, Hewitt took the score to 228, before being bowled for 79. It was a well-paced innings which contained eight fours and three sixes.
Evans joined Hafiz hoping to nudge the score to 250.
However, Hafiz, full of confidence from his batting performance earlier in the week, decided to take on the Nantwich slow bowlers.
Dealing exclusively in sixes and singles, Hafiz was last out for 39 from just 14 balls. 268 all out should have been enough to put Nantwich under pressure in their run chase, however this did not prove to be the case.
Openers Wright and Doyle started in positive mode, with Wright in particular looking in fine touch.
Hafiz achieved an early breakthrough, having
Doyle adjudged LBW for 7 and Aaron Soni followed this up, dismissing Stables for 10. When youngster Rohan Luthra bowled Luke Robinson for 23, Nantwich were reduced to 77 for three.
Rajiv Kumar joined Wright and quickly settled any dressing room concerns.
Wright in particular was driving fluently, giving Kumar licence to attack the bowling.
Whilst Widnes skipper Evans, rotated his bowlers, Nantwich kept the scoring up with the required run rate.
With the score well past 200, Widnes were reliant on a run out for their next wicket. Luthra throwing out Kumar for 88.
Wright looked ready to celebrate his century, but was caught off Soni for 93 within sight of victory.
This left Griffiths to hit two sixes in the 53rd over to see Nantwich past the Widnes total for a fivewicket victory.
After the match, Evans expressed his disappointment that Widnes could only take five wickets.
On the batting side, Kieran Maher looks in prime form and it was good to see Alex Hewitt playing such a responsible innings.
Widnes take on Toft this Saturday, looking to get back on the winning trail.
Earlier in the week, Widnes tasted defeat in the knock out stage of the T20 cup, going down to an eight wicket defeat at Chester Boughton Hall.
Widnes made 184 from their twenty overs, with notable contributions from Soni 26 and Hafiz , 38 in the late order.
Artif Qureshi was the hero for the home team, smashing an unbeaten 108 from 58 balls, ably supported by Duffy who made 49.
Chester had nine balls to spare when they passed the Widnes score.