Walsden Captain Chris Dewhirst won the toss and wasted no time in deciding to bat first – a decision that he would later regret as Ken Skewes and Rick Valentine bowled with a tremendous discipline, fully utilising the exaggerated swing that was being generated.

Walsden were under pressure and soon found themselves 44 for 6.

The in-form Valentine took the first wicket of Garland with the score on just 3, a slight edge finding its way to Scott Stanworth behind the stumps.

That soon became 13 for 2 after Skewes clean bowled the dangerous James Rawlinson, who has scored over 800 runs this season, for just 2.

A  Stuart Fitton run out removed Elliot Guilford, whereas 4th to go was overseas amateur Ashley Sbizzrri who went for a duck – offering a catch to Middleton skipper Steve Davey from the bowling of Ken Skewes.

Valentine got the 5th with the total on 44 when he dismissed Sri Lankan Professional Priyadshana for 14- Jimmy Ryan taking the catch at gully and immediately got Staroszcuk LBW for a golden duck.

Old heads Mark Hooson and Gareth Brandwood steadied and re built the innings somewhat with a stand of 37 before Scott Stanworth took a tremendous diving catch from Phil Tomlinson to get rid of Hooson for 19.

Shakleton joined Brandwood and together moved the total to the dreaded Nelson, 111, when Dale Highton dismissed Shakleton for 16.

Daniel Core got a wicket with his very first ball when he had Brandwood caught by Ken Skewes in the deep for 27.

The Walsden innings plodded along to 117 before Dewhirst was adjudged LBW from Core to end the Walsden innings.

All 5 of the Middleton bowlers claimed at least one wicket, with Rick Valentine (3 for 26) and Ken Skewes (2 for 28) setting the standard early on. Phil Tomlinson (1 for 32) bowled with great rhythm whereas the spins twins Dale Highton (1 for 25) and Daniel Core (2 for 4) mopped up the innings splendidly.

If Middleton thought it was going to be easy, then they were to be wrong as Walsden had their own bowlers who could generate just as much swing.

Ken Skewes set off like a house on fire with 12 off his first 5 deliveries, but was given out LBW to the cunning Priyadshana with the score on 17.

Middleton soon collapsed to 56 for 5 with the Sri Lankan being virtually unplayable.

With 4 LBW’s and 1 bowled, Priyadshana was bowling a steady line and length with swing.

Scott Stanworth (21), Grant Jones (5), Daniel Royle (2) and Stuart Fitton (4) all fell to the Walsden Professional as the home side slid further into trouble.

However, as was the case with the Walsden innings, it was two old heads that rescued the sinking ship.
In a stand of 34, Captain Steve Davey and Jimmy Ryan rescued the Moonrakers and took the game away from the visitors.

Ryan scored 11, before being caught behind, and Daniel Core 12 in quick time as they took the Moonrakers to within sight.

Dale Highton finished the game off with a fine on drive back past the bowler to give Middleton all 5 points and more importantly take them above Walsden into 4th place.

In the end, they were grateful to their Skipper Steve Davey who played a vital Captain’s knock of 40 not out off 75 balls and including 6 fours-  to rescue his side and keep the winning run (now 4 matches) going ahead of the visit of Royton on Saturday and the trip to Milnrow on Sunday.

Middleton (5 points) defeated Walsden (1 point) by 3 wickets.

- The Second XI visited Scott Street to face a Walsden side which had been weakened in recent times due to players leaving. This meant that the home side had only two senior players in their side.

Middleton skipper, Reece Jones, won the toss and batted first with his team strengthed by the returrn of Middleton CC legend Warren Teall to the ranks but they were left in a precarious position of 49 for 3, Walsden were in the driving seat.

Teall joined his captain in the middle and he played his natural aggressive game and quickly overtook Jones while he waited for the bad ball.

The pair batted well and helped their team recover to 117 until Teall (40) mis-timed an aerial cover drive into the hands of Josh Gale.

Mark Buckley came to the crease and made sure Jones (74) got to his 2nd fifty of the season before taking the attack to the bowlers and in relatively slow fashion he brought his own fifty up in 47 deliveries as Middleton finished on 238 for 6.

In reply Walsden were never really in the hunt for a victory once they were 55 for 3 with only 4 batsmen reaching double figures. Josh Gale top scored with a 63 ball half century before he was run out by Matt Collins in what was a classy piece of fielding at square leg. Eventually the Yorkshire men were all out for 163.

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