We got off to a slow start with Andy Ingle and Macaulay Shiel being watchful of some tight Shelf bowling, and when Macaulay fell in the 11th over we were 25 for 1. Steve Ashton joined Andy in the middle and the pair batted sensibly, and then the match turned on in one over when Ashton should have been caught at point then in the same over Ingle was dropped behind. This kick started our innings with Ashton taking the ball by the horns and smashing it to all parts. Ashton went in the 35th over for 132, 16 fours and 7 sixes and the score on 218. The incoming batsmen were given licence to push the score to the magic 300 mark, other than a few lusty blows from Paul Dowle before he played on again it didn’t really come off. Although at the other end Andy Ingle continued on his way to 118 not out. Final score 299 for 5

With the bowling line up we have, we would of expected to bowl the opposition out, and although we had them 4 down before they had reached 100, some sloppy out fielding let us down!
S Boardall was the pick of the Shelf batsmen hitting 137 not out, his maiden hundred. Paul Dowle again returned great figures of 15 – 1 – 72 – 5 picking up his 50th wicket of the season. With the weather looking like it was closing in, Steve Ashton was called upon to bamboozle the batsmen with his unorthodox leg spin. And it worked having P Ornigold stumped of his last ball of his first over, unfortunately Ashey hasn’t had so much bowling recently and found the conditions difficult to control the ball and failed to pitch the ball regularly and went for 34 of his 3 overs. Laurie Hughes was brought on to replace Ashey and although he has finally had his hair cut it didn’t stop him working up a good pace, and should have had a wicket in his first over when he took the edge, only to have the wicket keeper standing to close and not having enough time to react. Fastest bowling of the day! Not to be perturbed he picked up two wickets both bowled, well good spell. We had seven overs to take the last wicket but with middle order batsmen C Boardall coming in at number 11 because of an injury it was never going to be easy especially with S Boardall at the other end seeing the ball like a Beach Ball!!

Another good win, although a lot to improve on for our next two matches against Copley and Triangle