Middlewich 1st XI began their T20 campaign at home on Thursday night with a tough fixture against a strong Bollington side, ultimately falling to a 61-run defeat despite some impressive performances.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, Bollington made the most of ideal batting conditions, racing to an imposing 213 for 2 from their 20 overs. Opener Andrej Yaksender led the charge with a brutal unbeaten 112 off just 59 balls, dispatching 11 fours and 5 sixes to all parts of the ground. He was well-supported by George Lomas (44* off 29) and Ben Gibson (31 off 14), who set the tone early.

The pick of the Middlewich bowlers were Jack Davies and Rob Bushell, each claiming a wicket amid a tough evening with the ball.

In reply, Middlewich started cautiously before George Oakes (63 off 53) and Caleb McLaren (57 off 39) built a commanding third-wicket stand, taking the side to 123 before McLaren was dismissed. However, quick wickets followed as the required rate climbed, and despite a promising platform, Middlewich closed on 152 for 6, falling short of the target.

Although the result didn’t go their way, there were encouraging signs in the batting department – especially from Oakes and McLaren – and valuable early exposure for several players in the format.

The 1st XI will look to build on this performance in their next T20 outing as they continue their campaign under the lights.