Ben in Seventh Heaven and it's Hamba Kakuhle to Max!
The firsts losing run came to an end on Saturday, enhancing their Lancashire Knockout ambitions with a seven wicket win, achieved with almost 30 overs to spare.It was a much different innings from the one posted by the visitors in the return fixture earlier in the season. On that occasion, early wickets fell, principally to Ryan Ayres who’s 15 overs cost him fifteen runs with three wickets thrown in.
The middle order had then ground out a winning score on a soggy, cloudy day. On this occasion, in bright sunshine and with a lightning fast outfield to support, an opening partnership of 69 threatened a first ever league ‘double’ for the visitors. However, Ben Hamilton had other ideas as he came up with a devastating spell of spin bowling up the Clifton hill, which blew away the middle order away once he had removed both openers inside his first four overs. He finished with the excellent figures of 7-33 as the visitors capitulated in spectacular fashion, losing ten wickets for 48 runs.
The game had an ‘end of season’ feel to it, despite there being only three points between them, a feeling that was compounded as, despite Joe Settle departing in the first over, the score rattled along, assisted to the tune of a quarter of the score by 30 extras. Sam led the way with 33no, doggedly protecting his wicket whilst peppering the boundary with six fours, and Ryan scored 28 at more than a run a ball. Max’s final appearance for the club, came to an end for a disappointing 17, taking him close to 950 for the season, with the ensuing farewell party in the clubhouse ensuring that he will probably never look a double brandy and coke in the face again for many years to come. Max has been a breath of fresh air around the club, and we wish him well in his quest for first class cricket in South Africa, an ambition that his qualities as a batsman will no doubt realise.
The resulting seven wicket win puts the team somewhat precariously into fourth spot, a point behind Shaw, but only eight points ahead of the following pack of four, three of whom we still have to face, two of them at home. Shaw face beleaguered Woodbank next week, with Egerton and Flixton and Denton West and Flowery Field facing off just below us.
A big hole to fill with Max’s departure then, meaning that a big push is required from the rest of the squad if they are serious about that Lancashire Knockout place with an extra spot being made available following Roe Green’s somewhat embarrassing Cup Final win on Sunday. The fans love their days out on excursions to new grounds up and down the county. Let’s hope that the lads can get us over the line.