Social Toppled

Needing a win to bounce back from last weeks disappointment against Greenmount Runi won the toss and batted.JP & Matt Trow got off to a good start before loosing Matt for 18 caught pulling a short delivery with the score on 46.Martin Hodgkiss with JP took the score to 122 before another short ball atoned for Martin(30) caught pulling the first ball after drinks.A tight mid innings spell from the Social bowlers slowed down the run-rate whilst JP reached his 50 before falling like the others caught mid-wicket for 81 mis-timing a pull.With the remaining batsmen struggling against the tight bowling of Brooks only Jimmy Burrows(25)and Runi (21no)managed to post scores of note with Westhoughton reaching 226-7 at the close of the innings.

In response FSC lost their first wicket on 14 when a great throw from the deep by Simon Ashcroft to the bowlers end resulted in batsmen Andy Wareing being run-out;the batsman appearing to totally lose his bearings going for a 3rd run. Simon continued his good work bowling a terrific 15 over spell taking the prize wickets of Lane & Bohannon.The latter being caught by Dan Higham off a skier.Dan's opening 7 over spell was below his usual standards but the catch definitely was a pick me up and topped a good all round fielding display.Gary Tonge came into the attack and bowled well without any luck.A top edge to square leg and with 2 fielders converging JP called for the catch.Fearing for their well-being,with JP bearing down,the ball dropped between all 3 much to Tongy's disgust. But with both batsmen at the same end Hodgy threw the ball to Tongy who completed the run out,so all worked out in the end.A mid-order partnership between Cornes and Brookes took the score onto 123-3 with 18overs left.Looking comfortable whilst keeping up with the run rate the batsmen went for a 2, Kai Hodgkiss chased the ball to backward square and with a full 40 yard direct throw to the bowlers end ran out Cornes,the batter not even in the picture some 3 yards short.Brookes followed soon after caught behind off Dan Higham's bowling who had switched ends to bowl a much better second spell finishing with 3 for 62 off 14overs.The game was effectively over so it was left for Hodgy and Charlie Honour to bowl the last few overs taking a wicket a piece Social all out for 197.

A good all round performance against the league early pacesetters with JP the backbone of the innings.