Run Fest

Run Fest

Surprisingly Little Levers ground survived the morning downpour and play commenced on time with the home side put into bat.
The opening attack of Dan Higham and Matt Fanning were out of sorts unable to make the breakthrough whilst going for runs.Dan Reeve replaced Dan Higham and managed to knock over both opening batsmen who had made 30 and 40 respectively,the extra pace taking the batsmen by surprise.Dan Reeves spell was again expensive as top edges twice went for six and with the incoming batsmen rewarded with boundaries for hitting through the ball on the small ground.
Wasim came into the attack for Matt Fanning but couldn’t find line or length eventually going into a defensive mode bowling round the wicket.This nearly paid dividends as a full toss was hit to Matt Trow at deep mid wicket who spilled a regulation catch with the batsmen in single figures. Martin Hodgkiss replaced Wasim to try and tighten things up eventually taking a wicket caught long on by Dan Higham. Another catch then went down as Martin dropped a caught & bowled chance with the batsman on 40 who went on to make 79 before skying the ball for Dan Reeve to take a good catch at mid wicket to give Martin a second victim quickly followed by a third as Runi caught a mistimed drive at cover.
Jimmy Burrows took a good catch at long off to dismiss Callum Rushmore off Simons bowling but this was really the last success for the bowlers as all the batsmen chipped in.

Little Lever batted well benefitting from a below par bowling effort posting 260-5 off their 50 overs.

In response Westhoughton knew they needed a good opening partnership.Glenn Bullock and Matt Trow did not disappoint putting on 90+ before Glenn mistimed a sweep caught at square leg for 57.Hodgy joined Matt and continued the good work before Matt ran himself out on 49 going for a quick single to mid-off whose clean pick-up and direct throw left Matt cursing his luck.JP entered the proceedings and quickly took a liking to the shortish legside boundary hitting a couple of sixes off the slow spin bowling.A double bowling change tightened things up as JP picked out cover driving a wide half volley and both Runi & Jimmy played on.With the scored at 180-5 things were in the balance. Dan Higham joined Hodgy in the middle and it was this pair who batted through the remainder of the innings with Hodgy 61not out and Dan 37 not out with 6 overs remaining.The pick of the shots from Dan who hooked a short ball one bounce onto JP’s car.

A great batting effort to keep in touch with the league leaders.