Langley back in the groove at Appleton
LANGLEY 1st XI bounced back to form with a convincing win away at Appleton at the weekend, a team who twice last year beaten them easily.
With rain forecast, skipper David Frame elected to bowl on a damp wicket.
The hosts got off to a steady start, adding 25 before Frame had Bennett 20 caught at gully by Si Patterson.
M Cooper (12) soon followed, caught at slip by Paddy Turner following a fumble by Pat Horgan off the bowling of Matt Betteridge.
Buck and S Cooper led a fightback, taking the score to 76 before the introduction of Patterson saw Buck (19) well caught by Betteridge also at gully.
Rowlands and Cooper picked up the run rate and Appleton looked well set at 120-3 off 32 overs, the heavens opened and an hour’s play was lost. The break seemed to spark Langley into action.
Turner returned to the attack and Sunny Malik was introduced and the pair both struck immediately, dismissing the well set batsmen. Turner bowled both S Cooper (43) and Wright (3), while Malik bowled Rowlands (23) as Appleton were reduced to 129-6
Mcauley (13no) and Aslam (14) added 25 before the latter was caught in the covers off Malik who then bowled Jackson first ball before Appleton declared on 162-8 off 43 overs.
For Langley, Malik 3-20 off 5 overs, Turner 2-33 off 10, Frame 1-23 off 10, Betteridge 1-22 off 7 and Patterson 1-31 off 6 took the wickets.
In reply, Langley lost Dave Gregory (0) superbly caught behind with the score on 19.
This left Malik with Adam Cartwright at the crease. Both were dropped, chances the home side were left to rue as Malik hit out in spectacular style assisted by the talented youngster who played the anchor role.
The 50 came up in 10 overs, the 100 in the 20th over. Appleton rang the changes but could not force a break through and it was left to Malik to hit 20 off the 28th over as Langley reached 165-1, Malik 128no and Cartwright 31no.
A superb win for Langley who rallied in determined fashion following the rain delay. Langley climb to third and play top of the league Maritime on Saturday at Cockhall Lane.
Skipper Frame was a happy man. “It was a tough decision to bat first, we bowled tightly but Appleton batted well and looked well placed, the rain delay helped us regroup, Paddy and Sunny bowled superbly and we were chasing 25-30 less than I thought we would be,” he said.
“Sunny rode his luck but he’s a great bat, Adam showed great maturity and is a fantastic prospect with a good attitude.
“We have a massive game next week but go into it with a full strength team and our confidence restored.”
Langley 2nd XI had another great win and moved into second place, Knutsford posted 205-7 a total they chased down with 2 overs remaining, Steven Boon 46, Isaac Anderson 45 and Dave Letven 33 all batting well.