Match Report

What a difference a month makes as the Clifton hordes descended on Hyde and a Flowery Field ground that looked totally different to the unkempt mud heap that the firsts visited recently as two division five sides battled it out in the semi final of the knockout earmarked for second teams from divisions four and five and a place in the final against division four's Brooksbottom, on a picture perfect ground that was bathed in the sort of weather that saw the Clifton faithful leaving the ground looking like freshly boiled lobsters.

First blood was drawn by the hosts as Steve McManus (0) and Ethan Kite (7) both departed early. Second blood was drawn next as Steve Judge conspired to be hit on head and finger as he put together a partnership of 113 with Dan Jones (Pictured 1) whose 78 runs were a testament to a fine young cricketer with a bright future ahead of him. Judgey's brave 63, which came at a cost as his bloodied finger, but principally the blow on the head, meant he would play no further part on the game, watched on as the remaining young line up crashed their way to a formidable 256-7 scored at almost a run-a-ball with skipper Dorsey crashing 25 (and bemoaning a missing two fours that appeared to have disappeared from the scoresheet) and Lewis Keogh contributing an impressive 21 not out from 16 deliveries. 

Evergreen Rob Meredith then struck in the first over making it an uphill task for the hosts who, despite putting together some promising partnerships, could not anywhere near match the run rate required. It was not until 120 runs were on the board, that the batsmen woke up and realised there was nothing for coming second in a cup semi final, and began a surge that brought a flurry of boundaries. However, Liam's young warriors held their nerve and Lewis Keogh (Pictured 2) re-entered the fray just at the right time to finish with an impressive 4-18 off nine overs right in the middle of the home side's push for victory. As a result, the innings tailed away to 199 all out, with Lewis, fittingly, taking the final catch off the bowling of Dan Jones to secure a deserved place in the Cup Final against Brooksbottom.