Grobbelaar’s half-ton helps to save Runcorn
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RUNCORN Cricket Club first XI held out to share the spoils with their counterparts from Barton on Saturday afternoon at Moughland Lane.
Home captain James Wells called the coin flip correctly and elected to field. The start was delayed and the match was reduced to 37 overs.
Barnton started really well with their openers Jack Whalley and Callum Doyle putting on 40 in the first five overs.
Whalley finally went for 57 bowled by Jack Wignall.
Adam Garrod came in and continued to punish the Runcorn attack, moving on swiftly before he was trapped lbw by DJ McNamara for 60.
The only other Barnton bat to seriously trouble the scorers was Jordan Cobley who made 33 before he was bowled by Jordan Grobbelaar.
Barton eventually finished on 188-8 off their 37 overs.
Pick of the Runcorn bowlers was McNamara whose return of 3-44 from 14 overs included a spectacular caught and bowled to dismiss Dan Gilbert.
In reply, Runcorn got off to a disappointing start.
Skipper Wells departed for seven and Patrick Tyrrell went for a single.
Young overseas player Grobbelaar came in at number three and batted superbly.
Unfortunately for Runcorn, though, their other batsmen could not build a decent partnership with him until McNamara came in at number nine with the game quickly slipping away.
With the overs quickly running out McNamara decided to not hang around and with Grobbelaar going steady at the other end they built an impressive partnership which looked like it might earn them an unlikely win.
After hitting a total of eight fours and one six, McNamara went big once too often and did not quite connect as well as he hoped and was caught on the boundary by Gilbert off the bowling of Pat Flanagan for 48.
With the swift loss of Jack Wignall who was out lbw to Andy Leese for a duck, the onus was now on not losing the match.
In came young Matty Tyrrell, and under great pressure from the Barnton players, he showed great composure and managed to bat out the remaining overs, with Grobbelaar aiding and encouraging him right to the end.
Runcorn finished on 153-9 off their 37 overs with Grobbelaar closing his knock with a tremendous unbowed 72.
Runcorn bagged 10 points from the game, a result leaving them fifth in Division One, 11 points behind pacesetters Stockport Georgians.
Games involving the Runcorn second and third teams were both called off last weekend.
Runcorn’s first XI are in action this evening with a home T20 clash against Stretton.
The match starts at 6.15pm. On Saturday they visit Hale Barns (1.30pm).
The seconds are home to Hale Barns (1.30pm) while the thirds are without a match this weekend. ●