The Blitz

Middlewich 1st XI played host to in form Cheadle Hulme on the Croxton Oval. Earlier in the season Middlewich batted to a respectful draw in an evenly balanced contest.

With regular 1st team captain, Nick Gill, away at some hippy festival it was entrusted that Kristian Clowes, glove man and aggressive middle order batsmen, would don the leadership for the afternoon, hoping to inspire some intent and ultimately put survival hopes back on track.

Clowes lost the coin toss and Middlewich were instructed to bat with now regular twosome Williams and Leandro du Toit making there way out to the middle. Proceedings began positively with the pair reaching 32 before the blossoming partnership was broken firstly by Rana Malook, snicking off LDT (23) then by veteran Mo Ali, bowling Williams (9) with a delivery which kept low. In stepped young gun Andrew Davies who went onto justify his promotion up the order with a classy 73 from 116 deliveries including 9 boundaries. Davies absorbed the pressure of early wickets and gradually increased the tempo finding partners in Alex Gill (10) Clowes (15) and adding 82 for the 5th wicket with James Cornford (41). Middlewich closed their innings on 186-7 from 50 overs.

A new look opening partnership was found in LDT and Nigel Stubbs who together applied instant pressure on the very experienced Cheadle Hulme batsmen. Leandro removing Naseer in spectacular fashion when the aggressive opener skied the South Africans bumper miles into the sky and then took the catch himself, just as well as Alex Gill point blank refused having anything to do with it at mid-wicket. Clowes soon passed the pill to slow left arm spinner Stephen Bliss to see what some turn would do to the now steady partnership. Bliss was straight away into the act removing the Australian overseas then, despite what might have turned out to be a costly drop by Davies, clean bowled Cheadle Hulme’s captain for 23. LDT went on to bowl a total of 19 overs taking an impressive 3-58, ably supporting the work of Stephen Bliss, who at his favoured end recorded his finest ever hall with figures of 7-41 from 16.2 overs, bowling the visitors out for 150 to help Middlewich to only a second victory of the season in the Cheshire County Division 1.

Moment of the Day

Pre match plans were set for the dangerous Naseer which were well abided to as LDT got one to rise sharply towards the chin of the batsmen who skied the return catch. The moment gave Middlewich the hope and momentum that only an early wicket can.

Captains Corner

“It was great to have a crack at leading the side today and an absolute pleasure to see some brilliant personal performances out on the field. The lads are delighted with the win but we are all well aware of the size of the task required to maintain survival hopes, we will look to take the momentum into next weeks match and hope to play with the same tempo and aggression”

Nick Gill will retake the reins with an away trip to Tattenhall this weekend in hope of securing some vital points. First ball from 1pm.

Sunday sees the 1st team making the long journey north to Romley away in the cup after last weeks wash out.