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One-run win for Moonrakers

1/ 5/2008

MIDDLETON visited Werneth for a pre-season friendly match last Saturday and won a thriller by one run.

The Moonrakers were asked to bat first, and they got off to a terrific start, Scott Stanworth and Steve Davey taking the score past the 50 mark before Stanworth was trapped leg before for 28.

New professional Werner Coetsee and Davey had to show a bit more caution, and just when it looked as though they had mastered the bowling a mix-up saw Davey run out for 33.

Jimmy Ryan made only two, while Grant Jones seemed to struggle due to the slowness of the wicket.

Coetsee looked on form, but he then played a typical early-season shot and offered a simple catch to mid-on for 24.

Jones went soon after for 16, and it was left to the remaining batsmen to rebuild the innings.

John Punchard was unbeaten on 21 as Middleton reached a total of 168.

Overseas amateur Matthew Currin claimed his first wicket for Middleton in his second over, but the home batsman then got on top.

Werneth looked to be cruising, but home professional Lordarachchi unwisely tried to reverse sweep Coetsee and gave a catch to Jimmy Ryan at point.

Dale Highton and Punchard then bowled brilliantly to chip away at the batting.

Wickets fell regularly, and when Nathan Griffin went after making a fine half century the outcome was in the balance.

Read claimed the ninth wicket to fall, and with one run needed for a tie Punchard deceived Rehman with a slower ball and Sam Warren took the catch at point.

READ also claimed the first wicket of Middleton’s Lake Garage CLL season on Sunday, but play ended due to rain with Ashton on 10 for one.

The second team fixture at Ashton was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

MIDDLETON thirds lost their opening game of the season last Saturday.

A poor batting performance saw them bowled out for only 63 by Walsden.

Only Tom Currie and Richard Fitton made it into double figures.

In reply, the reigning champions knocked off the required runs for the loss of four wickets. Neil Tansey claimed two of those to fall.

Report courtesy of www.middletoncc.co.uk