Middleton Cricket Club - Moonrakers Win Nail Biter

Moonrakers Win Nail Biter

Sunday, 16 August 2009

After facing two defeats in the final over this season, at home against Littleborough and away to Heywood, Middleton finally had something to cheer about after a nail-biting final over thriller at Ladyhouse Lane against Milnrow on Sunday.

On an overcast day, Skipper Steve Davey won the toss and decided to bat first, but the visitors soon found themselves in trouble at 13 for 2 with Scott Stanworth (4) and deputy Professional Thomas Plant (4) of Australia both back in the pavilion.

However, Davey himself and Grant Jones stepped up to the fold by putting on a partnership of 70 in 17 overs, with Jones being the more dominant whereas the skipper an anchor.

In what was to be a regular feature of the game, a mini collapse ensured with Jones first to go; given out caught to a dubious bat/pad decision for a splendid 42 with the total on 83.

The Moonrakers collapsed to 88 for 6, with the flurry of wickets falling in between two vital partnerships. Stuart Fitton was run out first ball, whereas Davey went LBW to former Moonraker Nigel Doyle for 23. George Walker was then stumped for 2 to leave Middleton in real trouble.

However, Jimmy Ryan and Daniel Core dragged the visitors back into the contest with a vital stand of 76, both players being careful early on but gradually warming to the task.

Having moved the total to 164, Ryan fell for 37, bowled by John Storey – this being Ryan’s highest score of the campaign.

Both Rick Valentine and Dale Highton went for ducks, and the Middleton innings ended on 182 with Richard Fitton not out for 5 and Core unbeaten with a splendid 48 off just 58 deliveries.

Valentine and Plant opened the bowling for Middleton impeccably – conceding just 27 runs off the first 10 overs with Plant picking up the wicket of Denny Hulme LBW.

Milnrow took the total to 42 before they had a mini collapse of their own; Valentine dismissing another former Moonraker, Simon Brierley, for 17 LBW Plant taking 2 wickets in an over thanks to some great work behind the stumps by Scott Stanworth.

This topsy-turvy contest continued as Milnrow turned the game around with a good stand of 66 between deputy Professional Peter Skuse and Justin Fletcher.

The partnership was broken by Dale Highton when, on 110, he got Justin Fletcher – Stanworth again taking the catch – for 28.

The home side then lost 2 quick wickets as Skuse was stumped by Stanworth off Core and Plant taking a magnificent diving catch to remove Storey.

At 114 for 7 Milnrow were in mire, but another fine partnership, this time by Steven Lane and Gregg Jennings swung the game back into their favour – taking the total to 172 before Core had Jennings caught for a fine 39 – Plant again taking the catch.

In the final over, with the home side needing just 5 for victory and two wickets in hand, the returning Plant got Tremlett LBW and the very next ball George Walker brilliantly run put Nigel Doyle to take the Moonrakers home by 4 runs.


Rod Highton

Middleton

T Plant	c Hulme	b Storey	4
S Stanworth+	c Skuse	b Tremlett	4
S Davey*	LBW	b Doyle	23
G Jones	c Power	b Skuse	42
S Fitton	run out		0
J Ryan		b Storey	37
G Walker	st Hulme	b Skuse	2
D Core	not out		48
D Highton		b Tremlett	0
R Valentine		b Tremlett	0
R Fitton	not out		5

		Extras: 14w, 2nb, 1lb	17
		Total: for 9 wickets	182

J Storey	10-2-30-2
N Tremlett	9-2-56-3
N Doyle	11-2-22-1
P Skuse	15-4-2-2
S Lane	5-1-21-0

Milnrow

S Brierley	LBW	b Valentine	17
D Hulme+	LBW	b Plant	9
P Skuse	st Stanworth	b Core	44
M Power	st Stanworth	b Plant	0
S Dryden	LBW	b Plant	0
J Fletcher	c Stanworth	b Highton	28
J Storey	c Plant	b core	1
S Lane	not out		17
G Jennings	c Plant	b Core	39
N Tremlett	LBW	b Plant	4
N Doyle*	run out		0

		Extras: 8w, 6nb, 5lb	19
		Total: all out	178

R Valentine	12-0-42-1
T Plant	18.2-2-53-4
D Highton	11-2-51-1
D Core	8-0-27-3

Middleton (5 points) defeated Milnrow (1 point) by 4 runs.

-Milnrow were the visitors to Towncroft in this Second Division clash and on a dream of a batter's wicket, Middleton captain, Reece Jones won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first. But with his team at 14 for 2 with Marvyn Dickinson (5) and Alex Copeland (2) both out.

Sam Warren and the captain himself were at the wicket. And Jones quickly took the lead role while Warren played the anchor.

Reece brought his fifty up off 52 deliveries before he played on and was bowled by Josh Sinkinson. But his job was done as he led the recovery to leave his team on 106 for 3. And Warren was run out for a careful 30 with the score on 134.

Mark Buckley picked up steam and reached his second half century in three games. There were useful contributions from Tom Currie (32) and Pete Baxter (23). Baxter was dropped four times before he finished not out.

The chase never got started as Mark Buckley bowled excellent out swing and batsmen could hardly land a bat on his deliveries. The only person to get past 30 was Smith who was the last man out for a well played 75.

Middleton (5 points) defeated Milnrow (0 points) by 61 runs

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