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It’s rain again to frustrate MCC team

20/ 8/2008

MIDDLETON produced another tight finish which was spoiled by the rain with Clifton needing 27 runs and only three wickets left, writes Rod Highton.

On a day when the weather was just about holding off, Clifton skipper Chris Lord won the toss and decided to put the home side in on a damp and green Towncroft pitch.

The Moonrakers got off to a really good start, and the opening pair of Scott Stanworth and Steve Davey put on 40 in no time at all, playing the Clifton seam attack with ease.

But disaster struck with the Moonrakers seemingly set on their way. Scott Stanworth (15) played an untypical horrid shot - a leading edge which went right up into the air and fell into the safe hands of Sri Lankan professional Adil Nisar.

The usual collapse ensued for Middleton.

Professional Werner Coetsee (1) was bowled next over, shouldering arms to a ball which just nipped back enough, and Steve Davey (15) went leg before to a rather dubious decision.

Watchful Tom Read dropped anchor and tried to graft his side out of trouble on a pitch which was once again taking big to spin. His cause wasn’t helped when Jimmy Ryan bagged a duck, albeit when a good catch was taken by Nisar.

Stuart Fitton then did what he does best and tried to be positive. He and Read moved the score along to 79 before he tried to take a quick single which was never really on. He was sent back by Read and run out at the non-strikers end.

Skipper John Punchard also tried to get the scoreboard moving and played some nice sweeps, but he misread the flight of one delivery and was bowled through the gate for 11.

Read went two overs later, given out caught behind when he had hit his pad with his bat, for a slow but needworthy 18.

Sam Warren (4) went cheaply and at 102 for eight Middleton were in deep trouble.

Thanks to a brilliant partnership between Razz Hussain (22no) and Dale Highton (16no) the Moonrakers managed to reach 149 for eight off their allotted 50 overs to give themselves something at least to bowl at.

Punchard opened up with his two spin twins - Dale Highton and Werner Coetsee. This was because the wicket was taking spin drastically. Highton removed Yathahugoda early on, with the score on 10.

There was a fine 61-run partnership between captain Lord and Nisar which put Clifton in the driving seat. Both played particularly well against the spin, with Highton taking the majority of the assault.

It was only when Punchard put himself onto bowl and switched Coetsee to Highton’s end that things again looked favourable for the home side. Coetsee removed the dangerous Lord who was caught by Sam Warren at backward point for a well played 45. There then came a massive collapse as Clifton slumped to 96 for five.

Punchard and Coetsee ripped through the middle order, thanks to brilliant catches by Hussain at cover and Tom Read at short leg.

Rain started to fall, but the umpires decided to play on as they deemed it not heavy enough to go off.

Two further wickets fell, one each for Punchard and Coetsee, with the score on 105 and 118 respectively, before the rain fell even harder and the players were brought off.

Middleton

S Stanworth b Nisar 15
S Davey lbw Letshela 15
W Coetsee b Nisar 1
J Ryan c Lord b Letshela 0
T Read c Dorsey b Hough 18
S Fitton run out 7
J Punchard b Cullen 11
S Warren b Hough 4
R Hussain not out 22
D Highton not out 16
Extras 40
Total (for 8 wkts) 149
Bowling: Tye 3-0-16-0; Letshela 13-2-33-2; Nisar 12-4-27-2; Hough 15-4-33-2; Cullen 7-0-23-1.

Clifton

C Lord c Warren b Coetsee 45
J Yathahugoda lbw Highton 4
A Nisar not out 55
S Letshela c Hussain b Punchard 4
I Yathahugoda lbw Punchard 1
A Mukhtar lbw Coetsee 1
A Hough b Punchard 1
S Cullen c Read b Coetsee 2
L Dorsey not out 0
Extras 10
Total (for 7 wkts) 123
Bowling: Coetsee 17-3-50-3; Highton 8-1-43-1; Punchard 10-1-29-3.

SUNDAY’S fixture at Milnrow was abandoned without a ball delivered