Better days to come after opening loss

WIDNES began their 2022 campaign with a much-changed team, looking to build upon last season’s top-six finish.

On a cold and blustery day Widnes were invited to bat first with three players making their debut for the club, plus Kerian Maher returning from his brief spell at Runcorn.

For McKenna, Luthra, and

Osbourne, it turned out to be a baptism of fire as they could only muster four runs between them.

However on the evidence of the pre-season matches, there will be better days to come each of them.

The Widnes innings got off to a bright start, with Chughtai in particular, looking in good touch.

With his fellow opener, veteran Chris Kirby, largely untroubled, Widnes progressed to 50 in the 11th over.

It was a surprise when Chughtai missed a straight one from Jackson and was bowled for 44 off just 43 balls.

New boy Fergus McKenna, freshly arrived from Melbourne, must never have experienced such windy conditions and was promptly bowled by Jackson.

Burns avoided the hat-trick and together with Kirby took the score past 100 before Kirby became the first of Cranmer’s four wickets.

James McCoy began in confident fashion, striking boundaries to all parts, whilst Burns settled for the anchor role.

Having taken the score to 161, McCoy was adjudged LBW for a quickly made 47.

Maher lasted just three balls, and fellow debutant, Luthra, made just 2 and with Soni failing to trouble the scorer the Widnes innings had lost all momentum at 168 for 7.

Some lusty blows from Hafiz took the score past 200 before coming Jackson’s 3rd victim.

Captain Evan made just two before Burns was last man out for a patient 46, leaving Jackson with a five-wicket haul.

215 was about 30 less than what could have been anticipated given that four batters scored over 40 but failed to go on and make a big score.

With conditions easing, in favour of the batting team, the Widnes bowlers needed to get off to a strong start.

However, openers Partridge and Young set about chasing down the Widnes total in determined fashion.

Although the Widnes bowlers beat the bat and found the edge, a wicket would not come.

As the score grew, so did the confidence of Partridge.

Evans rotated his resources, but to no avail.

The 100 came up in just the 17th over and 10 over later, the 150..

Aaron Soni got the belated breakthrough on 160 when he had Partridge caught for 86.

Barnard became Soni’s second wicket, making only 8 before it was left to Young and Worral to steer Hyde to victory from only 45 overs.

After the game Evan reflected on the fact Widnes ought to have scored more runs given the solid starts made by four batters, but he would be more worried about his bowling attack.

Chester Boughton Hall are the opponents, at home next Saturday, and will pose an even sterner test for his bowlers.

The 2nd eleven enjoyed a better day, with a 10 wicket victory over Macclesfield and meet Upton CC away next up.