Warton vs Shireshead

Hosts hold on for hard earned losing draw points.

By Jack Bolton.

May Bank Holiday weekend had arrived and it brought some scorching cricketing weather with it to host a match of 2 great teams and rivals.
The skippers plan was to win the toss and put Shireshead into bat and that’s exactly what happened.
The opening pair for Shires were a young Nigel Cunliffe (Joe) and T. Jacques. Opening the bowling from the railway end was a frustrated captain who couldn’t get the previous delivery out of his mind. (Waited all morning for team kit, that never arrived!!)
As we always do we started well in the field giving the batsmen nothing and keeping that ring tight! Shaun Partridge opened up from the other end with his dangerous left arm swing and he was the one to draw first blood getting Jacques (9) with a tremendous catch from Winder.
Crowther continued to push at his end bowling tight but nothing really going his way as a former Warton player entered the crease. The left handed Gould attacked from the off hitting early boundaries, getting a little lucky off his edge at times. Partridge again stormed in and this time Barnfield assisted him by lighting quick hands getting the stumping that he rightly deserved of J. Cunliffe (13)
Gould continued to chance his arm and Crowther was trying everything he could to get through but the day was belonging to Gould. The former Shireshead captain, Yates was next in which meant 2 left handers were at the crease. Slow starting Yates provided support for Gould who reached his fifty. Crowther could of had him earlier, but Mayor just didn’t bring his buckets with him on the day dropping him twice, as well as an old Nelson dropping a dolly in the slips.
Eventually we struck gold and Crowther cleaned up Gould who ended his innings on 78. Crowther struck again bowling Yates who reached a well worked 35.
On came the bear (Neddy bear) who stormed in and bowled well from the off. The new batsmen was the visiting skipper D. Jack who’s intensions were to get on with it and this didn’t go his way being run out for 6. This brought P.Oliver in, who wanted to hit big like always, so an in out field was put into place and worked well for Needham who managed to get his wicket for the day getting Oliver(5) caught to the safe hands of Winder again.
Another former WCC player came to join us on the dancefloor, N Rafferty who's time at the crease was awfully short with Crowther still hunting for more wickets and rightly so as he got him stumped again by pure brilliance behind the stumps from keeper Barnfield.
This left J. Oliver and M. Yates for the final few overs who saw it out and Shireshead finished strong on 165/7.
Now it was a sprint to the pavilion for what was an unbelievable spread made by Florence and Charlotte, thanks your tea went down a treat! A serious contender for Best Tea award!!! (After my Mums from week one of course)
Now it was Warton’s turn to chase down the runs opening with a lively S. Mayor and a patient G. Price. Coming of last weeks 50 Price was full of confidence but just couldn’t seem to get going, due to Shires opening pair bowling tight and giving nothing away.
I Guayuum opened up bowling 6 maidens in a row and Jack bowling 2. D. Jack was first to strike getting Mayor first for 0. Price was still struggling and was now joined by hard hitting Winder. Like always Winder got a move on but at times struggled to get it away, credit to the bowlers. Unfortunately it was no repeat of a 50 for price who fell for 1, despite a dogged resistance. J. Oliver came onto bowl but didn’t succeed in any wickets in his 7 over spell bowling tight and not giving the batsmen much to play with.
Barnfield walked out to join Winder, and started to build a great partnership as the boundaries started to flow.
Jacques came onto bowl, bowling off spin and got Winder (44) LBW falling just short of his 50.
Barnfield was now joined by Wartons TALISMAN Bolton, who was in great form (nets) and feeling very confident. Barnfield however fell to the pressure and was caught behind off Jacques falling for a well earned (20). Finney now got involved with the bat and straight away went after Jacques.
Not long after Bolton fell for (3), caught again for the second week running by a marvelous caught and bowled off Jacques. I can honestly say you will never see a better catch like that ever again.
This meant that the old boy went out to try and seal the deal. Nelson and Finney now took control and calmed things down before Finney (12) was plum LBW to Jack.
Big hitting star MFI (S. Partridge) strutted out to join Nelson. As we expected he teed off! Firing early boundries and massive 1's and 2's before falling on his behind, trying to get greedy for 2. He did his job and put an extra 24 on the board before being stumped off P Oliver by M Yates.
The skipper went in at number 9 and all he had to do was see it off and that he did. Battling through the last few overs to get the team home safe with Nelson. A red inker for Nelson (13) and Crowther (2) got us to 125 falling short of the target.
2 important points taken from the day and holding off Shires to take 8 pts rather than a maximum.
Win or loose we are a solid unit and we stick together which we did by having a drink Saturday night and welcoming in our latest supporter Keith, with a S**t shirt night.

Many thanks to MDJ Staircases for there support with the match ball sponsor once again.