Browse Sections

• Local football
• Local cricket

Punchard knock in vain as MCC lose

Sam Warren - www.middletoncc.co.uk/
17/ 7/2008

DURHAM player Gareth Breeze was the latest to become Middleton Cricket Club’s deputy professional last Saturday.

He stood in for touring Werner Coetsee in a CLL home match agiainst Crompton, a gentle breeze of the weather type having done enough to remove earlier rain.

Visitors Crompton won the toss and invited Middleton to take first knock on a wicket which had been badly affected by the weather.

It was soon eight for three.

A delivery to Steve Davey seemed to hold up on a damp patch which meant he played his shot far too early and offered a simple edged chance, taken by Javon Searles in the gully.

Martin Roberts was next to go, caught by Simon Wright at square leg, then Breeze also got a delivery which held up on the wicket and gave a catch to square leg.

Tom Read and Jimmy Ryan tried to pull the innings round, and they kept the scoreboard ticking over with quick singles.

Simon Wright was introduced to the attack, and in his second over he removed Ryan with a delivery that kept low and found its way through the gate.

Stuart Fitton went for five, run out, and it was 49 for five.

John Punchard and Read co ntinued the fight back with a valuable stand of 43 in quick time, but Read finally fell for 35 and he was quickly followed by Sam Warren.

Punchard finished unbeaten on 34 and Middleton totalled 116 for seven - not a great score but at least something to bowl at.

Gareth Hughes and Punchard opened the attack and did well in containing the batsmen.

Something had to give, and in the fifth over Crompton professional Keavin Stoute decided he’d had enough and hit Hughes for successive boundaries.

Punchard removed Darrem Graham with a splendid return catch, while Breeze trapped Stoute leg before and also ended a brief knock from Zulfiqar.

Steven Wright was clean bowled by Punchard for three, and Crompton had their problems at 44 for four.

It looked promising for Middleton, but Simon Wright and Javon Searles then launched a scathing attack on the bowling, scoring 78 in 11 overs.

The runs kept coming, including six from a reverse sweep by Searles, and Crompton reached their target with seven overs to spare.