Birty Cup win

An understrength 2s missing Glenn away starting a life sentence,Woody gone for a jog around the park,Nathan playing footy in the park,Kingy at Vanity Fair,Kai pulling pints,Tongy cooking bangers on the BBQ,Jamie sparked out and Beany retained by the 1XI Runi was forced to draft in the evergreen JP,Red Stripe Spike and scorer Seb to ensure we had a full quota against a strong Greenmount outfit.

Having won the toss Runi decided to bat on a warm summers day at Brandlesholme Rd.

Things didn’t get off to a great start as Spike went for a first ball duck so Hodgy joined Matt Trow at the wicket earlier than hoped.They took the attack to Greenmount as bowlers Crawford and Hickson were despatched for early boundaries after which Trowie survived when the keeper,standing up, dropped a straightforward chance.Having seen off the opener a change of bowling accounted for both Trowie lbw for 22 and Hodgy caught and bowled for 32 to the slow bowling of Dave Senior.Runi in recent good form was glad to see the back of Crawfords 10over spell as he had him in knots with his inswinging bowling surviving 3 decent appeals to be joined by Charlie Honour. The pair put on the best part of a 100 stand before Runi was harshly adjudged lbw for 56 and then Charlie was bowled for 61 looking to attack in the last 10overs shortly after. At this point a mini collapse occurred as JP went for a duck and Abbass didn’t trouble the scorers as he was cleaned up first ball. Dan Higham didn’t look in any trouble as he set the platform for an assault on the bowling but skied one out caught for only 9.
With wickets falling Jimmy wanted to retain the strike,looked for a 2 to the square leg boundary but the throw was too good as he was run out short of his ground for 11. Seb and Chris were then left to try and bat the remaining overs however Chris mistimed one to point out for 3 with 9 balls remaining.
Westhoughton 231 allout.

Greenmount opened up against the new ball attack of Dan Higham and Abbass who caused early problems as both played and missed before JP snapped up young Tom Heaton at slip off Danny.In stepped the dangerous Simon Woolford,the leading batsman in 2XI cricket in 2014. Danny continued to prise away at the offstump and was unlucky as a nick flew between JP and Chris Trow and over their heads for 4 off the shoulder of the bat. Then Woolford had another escape as he mistimed a drive which landed just out of the reach of Hodgy at mid on and then survived a run out as a shy at the wickets missed but with both batsmen stranded Hodgy collected and threw to Dan to whip off the bails however it was the other batsman who sacrificed his wicket. Abbas ran in hard and a Yorker accounted for Richard Long as Westhoughton were in the ascendency with Greeners at 20odd for 3. At this point a double bowling change occurred as Hodgy and Jimmy were given the responsibility to keep on the pressure. As Hodgy struggled to reach the other end the resurgent Jimmy took the prize wicket of Dave Senior playing on for only 4. With Woolford still at the wicket the key was to attack the incoming batsman and defend the boundaries;at this point Greeners were really under the cosh and tried to attack.Jack Harrison was bowled for 17 as Hodgy finished with 1-35 off 10 whilst Jimmy returned great figures of 1-24 off 10. Charlie replaced Jimmy and took the wicket of Pete Crawford whilst Abbass picked up Ian Senior caught Seb for 20….oh what joy !
With partners running out Woolford opened up quickly going past 50 with some fine boundary hitting but with Greeners needing 80 off the last 10 it was only a matter of time as he skied one to long off , Matt Trow ran in to take a good catch to give Dan Higham the prize scalp out for 83.
Abbass and Dan cleaned up the tail both finishing with 3 a piece as Greenmount were bowled out for 168.

A valiant effort as the 2s go into the hat for the second round draw