Bollington bolster lead at the top

BOLLINGTON CC TOM HORSFIELD

BOLLINGTON retained their 100 per cent start to the season with an away victory against Alvanley.

Skipper Rick Hough won the toss and elected to bowl first, on what was a very wet pitch.

Bollington spurred several chances in the field before the formidable opening partnership of bowlers Mo Jahangir (2-30) and Sabir Mallie (1-20) struck early, removing both openers for single figures.

The visitors continued to tear through Alvanley’s middle order with batsmen Chris Jones (47) the only batsman to show any resilience against a rampant bowling display.

First change bowlers Alex Durie (4-37) and Stuart Plant (2-15) ensured that Bollington would not be chasing a big target.

Learning from their previous fielding mistakes, Bollington were much improved in the later overs, seeing several quality catches being taken from Owen Kirton, Hafiz Imran, Durie and a brilliant caught a bowled from Plant.

An excellent all round display saw Bollington restrict Alvanley to 104 all out off 45 overs and they made easy work of chasing the low total for the loss of just one wicket.

Skipper Hough anchored the chase with a steady 30 not out and was backed up brilliantly by Mo Jahangir who hit 38 before losing his wicket.

Mallie made light work of reaching the required total, hitting a quick fire 32 not out to boost his average to over 200 for the season and see Bollington take the full 25 points and cement their place at the top of the league at this early stage in the season.

The performance of the weekend, however, came from the club’s second team, who also took on Alvanley.

An incredible knock from second team skipper Joe Binder saved his team from an early tea as accurate bowling from Alvanley ripped through the top order.

A fifth wicket partnership of 55 with Rick Paterson (22) steadied the ship for a while but it was the remarkable tenth wicket partnership of 133, with the resilient number 11 Mike Heathcote (19), which allowed the team to post a very healthy 263; Binder ending up on 183 not out from 135 balls including 20 fours and four sixes.

The bowlers then backed up their captain by dismissing the opposition for 115; Will Binder and Mike Heathcote with three apiece, Gregg Bishop with two and Joe Binder himself fittingly taking the final wicket in the 30th over. POYNTON lost their 100 per cent record in what proved a very different affair than their previous two convincing victories.

Not only were Poynton dismissed for only 65, but the 10 wickets fell for just 40 runs. Paul Gould and Brian Kingham opened up by striking the ball confidently, and at 25 for no wicket, there was little sign of what was to follow.

Several batsmen got out to poor shots, and there