Positive signs Widnes will soon turn corner
WIDNES were looking to put their batting woes behind them on a wicket perfect for scoring runs. Captain Tom Evans made two changes to last week’s side with Ben Hewitt and Chris Kirby replacing Luthra and Osborne.
Widnes lost the toss and with Brooklands deciding to bat first, the match began in a strange fashion when McKenna affected his third run out in two matches in the second over, Edwards deciding to risk a quick single to the quick fire Aussie and failing to make his ground.
O’Gorman joined Cunliffe and set to work building a substantial partnership.
The fifty came up in the 11th over and with O’Gorman looking the more fluent, the hundred was achieved in the 23rd over.
Cunliffe fell to McKenna
for 34 and Evans decided it was time for spin and promptly brought himself onto bowl but also, more surprisingly, Matty Burns from the Church End.
It was Burns who took the next two wickets with his flighted off spin, deceiving Walker and Carroll for 11 and 18 respectively.
Evans bowled Bagshaw for 9 but O’Gorman continued to press on. When he was finally trapped LBW by Evans for 93, Brooklands were building a substantial score.
Hafiz picked up a couple of quick wickets and Burns picked up his third and the Brookland innings came to an end after 55 overs at 234 for 9.
A challenging target, but with a good wicket and lightening out field, it was still within Widnes’ reach.
Widnes needed someone to play a substantial innings if they were to chase down the Brooklands total.
Alas, whilst a number of batters got good starts no one was able to make more than 55.
The veteran Kirby was first to go, caught for 8.
Ali Chughtai once again looked in fine touch but fell for 37.
McKenna hit some nice fours but went for just 20. At 83 for 3 the Widnes run chase was stalling.
James McCoy joined Burns and soon had Brooklands on the defensive.
Playing his normal attacking game, McCoy hit six fours and a six and with Burns playing untroubled, the score advanced to 168 with 10 overs to go.
Burns made 50 off 96 balls but then McCoy missed a straight one and was bowled. Maher made 11 but the result hinged on the run out of Burns following a misfield in the deep.
Ben Hewitt could only make two and Widnes hopes now rested on younger brother Alex.
At 194 for 7 needing around seven per over to win, could Hewitt steer the home side to victory?
Having scored 19 off just 13 balls he fell to a remarkable caught and bowled by Carroll.
Hafiz fell to an even better caught and bowled by the same bowler for just 6 and when Evans was stumped, the Widnes innings was all over for 213, signalling a defeat by 21 runs.
After the game Evans was left to reflect on a fielding performance which at times fell short of the standards set in recent weeks. On the batting front, nearly all the batters are getting a good start, but are not going on to make a really big total.
There are positive signs that this will change and a massive run total is hopefully not far away. This Saturday Widnes go to Oxton and on Sunday take on North East Cheshire in the Cheshire cup.