Browse Sections

• Local football
• Local cricket

Nine-wicket haul for pace ace

Matthew Collins
7/ 8/2008

MIDDLETON seconds won their match at Radcliffe’s Racecourse Ground by several lengths.

Once again they found themselves in some trouble at 41 for four with only 26 overs left.

Mark Buckley then took on the task of upping the run rate as Raza Hussain blunted the Radcliffe attack with a dogged nine off 53 deliveries.

The runs started then started to flow and Buckley reached his second half-century of the campaign.

The pair started hitting out, in an attempt to give their bowlers a decent total to defend, but a heavy downpour came, and early tea was called

After tea the batsmen found the pitch easier to bat on, as the deluge had caused moisture to seep on to the top surface, allowing the ball to skid on. With the opening bowlers back on all Buckley did was to use the pace of the ball to score runs square of the wicket.

Buckley was eventually out for 92.

With five balls left Hussain needed two to reach his first half century of the season. Two singles came off consecutive deliveries, and he then smashed a six over midwicket last ball of the innings.

Rick Valentine and Buckley opened the bowling, knowing they would not get the full 50 overs in because of the time lost during earlier downpours.

Valentine set about tearing through the Radcliffe batting order. In his opening overs he took five wickets for only two runs.

Buckley kept it tight at one end as the wickets fell at the other.

Buckley was then replaced by Gareth Hughes who almost instantly ruined Valentine’s chance of an historic 10-wicket haul by taking a wicket with his first ball.

Valentine wrapped up the rest of the batsmen to finish with nine for 24.