Victory from the Jaws of… Ourselves!
The thirds made it a full house of teams progressing to the next round of the cup with a somewhat unconvincing win over a side sitting third from bottom in a league two divisions below Mac's men.
A batting performance that was one of the worst seen at Manchester Road for many moons, was epitomised by Jack Barton attempting the sort of run that you go for in the last over, needing ten to win, when the keeper fumbles the ball. Sadly, Jack tried it in the third over with Steve Mac already back in the pavilion and, unsurprisingly, ended up in the same popping crease as a bemused Dan Jones as the bails were removed at the other end. What followed was a series of cowboy carves and attempted pulls to square leg off full, straight deliveries, that resulted in the loss of seven wickets inside seventeen overs, as the side limped from 81-4 to 100 all out.
Thankfully, the bowling and fielding was more in keeping with a side lying 3rd in the Premier division and, led by Elliot Hogben's second five wicket haul in succession, and some excellent catching and ground fielding, DSL's promising start of 51-3 was gradually eroded away.
With three wickets falling in the eighties, the game finally swung Clifton's way and the introduction of Dan Jones (3-6) - with a stunning caught & bowled - already up there for catch of the season - finally saw off the visitors to earn a scarcely deserved, but exciting, seven run victory and a place in round two.
The art of manufacturing ones and twos into gaps in the field seems to be a lost art for the club's batsmen at the moment.
With one eye on t'internet for the cup draws, we go again next week.