Defeat

Many thanks to Neil Morley for the following report from last night's clash between North West Water and teh Woodburners at Whittington. Unfortunately, I was unable to make the match, but it sounds like it was another nail biter.

Wednesday July 8, 2009: the day cricket lovers all over the world had been waiting for with bated breath. The day that two legendary adversaries came head-to-head once more.

At last the hype, speculation, wall-to-wall media coverage and nervous anticipation was over, and the battle between these cricketing giants could commence.

Yes, NWW were taking on the Woodburners.Whittington was bathed in sunshine: a far cry from the last time the two teams met at this venue, when mud was the dominant theme.

Bowlers, backed by good fielding on both sides, were on top in a low-scoring game. The variable bounce made for tricky batting.NWW won the toss and put the Woodburners in. Five of the visitors had played the previous night, in a narrow defeat by BT. Skipper Hugh Curteis was absent.

Alan Bothwell and Neil Morley put on 17 for the first wicket, before the latter gloved a rising ball from G.Jones and was caught behind in the fifth over.

Hal Harries and Bothwell then added 25 for the second wicket, including a six by each batsman off H.Jones.

Youngster R.Jones (NWW's man-of-the-match: 28 and 2-1) then bowled Bothwell (Woodburners' man-of-the-match: 17 and 2-5).

Harries was run out (excellent fielding) shortly afterwards for 18, and when skipper Alec White was also bowled by R.Jones for 2, Woodburners were struggling at 49-4.

Phil Edwards and Rob Birkett saw the visitors through to the close without further mishap, but sharp bowling and good ground fielding kept a tight grip on the scoring rate, and in the eight overs they were together the fifth wicket pair were only able to add another 33 runs, resulting in a final score of 82 for 4 after 20 overs.

The visitors felt they were at least 20 runs short of a competitive target, but their spirits quickly soared when Bothwell dismissed both openers, left-handers B.Cole and G.Cole, in the very first over, Phil Edwards taking both catches.

Dave Ryder and M. Daulby then attempted to steady the ship until Daulby, who was threatening to cut loose, was caught off the leg-spin of guest 11th man (thanks, NWW) Dominic Powell.

R. Jones joined Ryder at the crease, and played the innings of the match, pulling and driving with power and authority, after a careful start. But the required run rate had started to creep up: after 11 overs, only 21 runs were on the board.

Two fours by Jones off Phil Edwards' first over kept the target in reach, but by the time he was caught behind off Graham Stroud for 28, 25 were needed off the last three overs.

I. LLoyd was caught by Morley off Hal Harries for a duck, bringing skipper Justin Evans to the crease. He struck some hefty blows, so that by the start of the last over, 13 were needed for victory.

But despite his best efforts, and those of the steady Dave Ryder, who had been in since the first over, NWW just fell short on 76-4, losing by six wickets.

A close match, played in a good spirit, followed by quality chip butties. What's not to like?