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Moonrakers rocked by amazing knock

Rod Highton
5/ 6/2008

THE vast Racecourse ground awaited Middleton last Saturday when they made the trip to play highly placed Radcliffe.

Things did not go the visitors’ way, as Umar Tariq’s sensational 154 totally overshadowed anything else in this contest and was catalyst for a disappointing 101 run defeat for the Moonrakers.

The toss was crucial, and when the Radcliffe captain won it he had no hesitation in deciding to bat on what looked a flat wicket.

Despite the best efforts of Thomas Read and Matthew Currin no vital breakthrough came with the new ball. Professional Tariq and fellow opener Rob Farnworth looked set to build the foundations of a big innings.

To be fair to Read, he was unlucky not to capture Farnworth early on, with a number of slog shots falling short of the fielders.

Radcliffe took the score to 102 before the first wicket fell. Immediately after drinks John Punchard lobbed a teasing delivery up to Farnworth (44) who this time found the hands of Grant Jones at deep midwicket.

Gorsi and number four Ishan Raza both made brisk contributions before falling to the caught Scott Stanworth bowled Dale Highton combination, but it was only when Victorian overseas amateur Sandri came to the wicket that things began to fly.

Tariq, having played quite within himself, let loose with a spectacular array of shots.

In the space of 35 balls he went from 87 to 154 in a magnificent display of hitting which totally destroyed the Middleton attack.

Punchard bore the brunt of the assault, going for three consecutive sixes as Tariq creamed every bowler to all parts of the Racecourse.

A breathtaking knock of 154, which included 14 fours and seven sixes, finally came to an end when he holed out to Richard Fitton, off Werner Coetsee, in the 48th over.

But by then he had done enough.

A couple more runs were added to the total in the last two overs as the home side amassed a daunting 269 for four.

The reply did not get off to the best of starts. Scott Stanworth’s dismal run continued when he snicked a swinging delivery to wicketkeeper Farnworth with the total on 14.

Experienced campaigner Steve Davey and professional Coetsee tried to steady the ship and get things up and running. The pair had added 29, Coetsee looking quite comfortable, before he once again played on to his stumps from a Gorsi delivery for 21.

A score of 45 for two then became 53 for four before 46 were added by Davey and Thomas Read in quick time. But with the score on 99 Davey was dismissed by a spinning delivery from Raza which took the left-hander completely by surprise.

Read, Martin Roberts and Punchard continued where Davey had left off, but when all-rounder Read went for 16, on 125, and Roberts was dismissed soon after, things began to look grim for the visitors.

Punchard followed suite, dubiously given out leg before for 13, and when Currin and Richard Fitton fell in one Sandri over all was lost.

Sam Warren and Dale Highton batted out the final few overs, finishing unbeaten on 13 and 14, and Middleton closed on 168 for nine in what was a disappointing display from the Towncroft outfit.