Welcome to Clifton Cricket Club

The  stalwart  efforts  of  Bill  Dorsey  and  Andy Barton  at  Bamford  Fieldhouse  meant  that  both  firsts  and  seconds  got  games  in  with  the  firsts  managing  to  start  on  time  and  as  a  result,  pick  up  the  maximum  six  points  and  a  league  double  against  the  ‘noisy  neighbours’  from  Roe  Green.  The seconds also won but were only able to secure five points as the game started late.

At Clifton, the positive influence exerted by Haseeb Hameed upon Adam Holt continued after the bowlers had terrorised the Roe Green batsmen into submission on the damp wicket.  Liam Hurt was chief executioner with a remarkable 4-14 off 12 overs but he was well supported by Ryan Barker (3-38) and Gareth Cross (2-26) as the Green were sent tumbling to tea with just 83 on the board, a total achieved in almost 37 overs.  Haseeb (42no) and Adam (37) then took the score to within three of victory before the latter was dismissed. Gareth came to the crease to follow up on his century at the Green in the reverse fixture and faced just one ball as Haseeb   crashed the first ball of the next over for the winning boundary.  The result opens a seven-point gap to the relegation places and a win against bottom side Royton next week should ensure Premier League status in the new GMCL set up next season.

1st XI Scorecard - https://www.crichq.com/matches/769912/1st_innings

A somewhat depleted 2nd XI secured a workmanlike win at Bamford Fieldhouse in a game reduced to 26 overs.  The two Robs, Reade and Meredith, surprisingly failed to break through as the home side  took  first  knock,  but  the  introduction  of  Dave  Dempster  and  Husty  Uryakhel,  both  broke  through  the  partnership  and  slowed  down  the  scoring  rate  with  Husty  conceding  just  nine  in  his  five  over  spell.  The final total of 108-6 was achieved at a fraction over four an over and Jim Ainscough and Chris Lord provided the platform with a stand of 23 in four overs before Jim was unluckily adjudged lbw.  Liam Dorsey (32) and Dave Dempster (27no) then secured the seven wickets win with a couple of overs to spare.  The result opened an eleven-point gap over the two clubs in 2nd and 3rd place with four games remaining.

2nd XI Scorecard - https://www.crichq.com/matches/770068/1st_innings

With  Saturday proving  to  be  yet  another wash-out,  the  firsts gained  a  two  point  advantage over  Woodhouses  who  somehow  managed to  get  a  game  in  and  lost.

That  changed the  focus  to  Sunday  and  the  2^nd  XIs  first  tilt  at  silverware in  the  Premier Cup  Final  against 2^nd  Division  opponents in  Prestwich.  Sadly, a  succession  of  factors  contributed to  a  disappointing defeat  in  an  exciting  match  in  which  both  sides  refused  to  let  the  weather  dampen the  tension.  Having lost  the  toss,  the  advantage of  batting  second was  key  for  Prestwich  and  when  the  batting  line  up  failed to  get  to  grips  with  the  difficult conditions  and  were  bowled  out  for  a  disappointing  90,  that  advantage was  cemented.  Prestwich started  well  but  the  introduction of  spin  changed the  impetus.  David  Dempster  struck in  his  first  over  as  did  Sam  Dorsey  and  Prestwich,  from  33-0,  suddenly found  themselves  61-6  with  DD  taking  4-14  in  his  9  overs  and  Sam  2-15  in  8.  However, the  rain  did  have  the  final  word  as  two  breaks  not  only  reduced the  target  (albeit only  by  three  runs),  but  turned  the  ball  to  a  piece  of  soap  which  the  returning  medium pacers  found  it  hard  to  manage  and  seventh  and  eighth  wicket partnerships  of  thirteen and  fourteen  saw  the  opponents limp  home.  The  ‘wide’  count  of  twenty to  Prestwich’s  three  was  also  crucial  in  such  a  low  scoring game,  but  it  was  tough  on  Jim  Ainscough’s  young  side  that  contained  six  junior  players, but  they  will  now  turn  their  focus  to  winning the  league  title  and  an  enhanced  place  in  the  new  2020  GMCL  set-up.

2nd XI Cup Final Scorecard - https://www.crichq.com/matches/769105/1st_innings

The 2019 season will soon be upon us, so make sure you get your new kit ordered asap. Featuring Nike training kit and casual wear.

Simply follow the link to our Club Shop from the ‘Cricket’ tab on the menu above.