The league season got underway at last on Saturday, with the club being one of very few, if any at all, to get first and second XI games in. The firstsstarted on time, playing the full 50 overs, in a division in which two games didn’t even start.
The recent filthy weather made it a tricky task for opening pair Sam Dorsey and Joe Settle who, after dispatching a couple of early gifts, found himself lbw to the first of Pilling’s five victims. Sam, though, was in ‘they shall not pass’ mode, as he dug in with Max Meyer, to provide the sort of platform for a late change into attack mode, much like last week at Wallasey. That partnership of 101, with Max bringing up his first Clifton half century, was the impetus for an scenario that was very similar in nature to last week, with Ryan Ayers (30 off 49) then Mason Turner (21 off 16), Ben Hamilton (12 off 16) and Matt Howarth (13 off 8) all bludgeoning some very big maximums, taking the score to an imposing 201, considering the conditions and the fact that the opposition bowling and fielding was largely first rate.
Shaw started well, but as always, wickets slow down the progress and after skipper Richard Dempster removed both openers with 22 and 23 on the board, Shaw were always going to be up against it. Again, the bowling attack complimented each other well, grinding out wickets and maidens with growing ease, allowing Danny Higham to return after a tricky first spell, to demolish the lower order with 5-21. Only Mason found it difficult to hit a length and came away wicketless and it’s heartening to see that, when one bowler has an off day, the rest step up to the plate. Shaw finally succumbed for 132, but it has to be said that they will surprise a few teams this season with their all round quality.
So, a good day at the office and onward an upwards into the cup tie and next week’s visit to the idyllic pastures of Bradshaw, who’s promotion party at Egerton proved a damp squib when they were all out for 50.