Clifton’s 2nd XI travelled to Stretford CC on Saturday with dark clouds looming above and rain in the air for the first time this season. The Stretford skipper won the toss and elected to bat. As usual, Rob Meredith opened the bowling alongside Tom Worthington. Both bowlers kept things tidy as Stretford made a slow but steady start, with Rob’s first four overs all being maidens.
Eventually, Rob got the breakthrough, and Stretford were 21-1. The second wicket came from a direct hit by Owen Hogben to remove the second opener, who was beginning to look settled on 37. Rob then finished his spell, picking up two wickets. Tom finished his spell wicketless but was economical, conceding only two runs per over.
Then came the skipper Liam and Jordan Higham to keep the pressure on. Liam showed his experience and began regularly taking wickets at one end, while Jordy kept it tight at the other. The hosts were 73-4, which quickly became 103-7, with Liam finishing with excellent figures of 4 for 50 from his 14 overs, with 2 maidens. Jordy was unlucky to finish without a wicket but bowled 12 overs for just 46 runs.
Stretford then finished their innings with a solid last-wicket partnership of 41, taking them to 144-7 after their 45 overs.
Young lads Ethan Kite and Owen Hogben opened the batting in a similar fashion to Stretford — nice and solid, but with not many runs flowing. Owen was the first to fall, bowled for 13 in the 10th over. Ethan followed shortly after, also bowled, for 18. This left Dan Jones and Jordan Higham at the crease. Both dug in and stuck around to keep the scoreboard ticking and secure Clifton the bonus point.
Both batsmen batted carefully, gave little away, and brought a big six points back home to Clifton. Jordy finished 56* and Dan Jones 47*. Their unbeaten partnership of 109* secured the vital bonus point for Clifton, who now sit in second place behind Swinton Moorside, who have a slightly higher net run rate.
We look forward to welcoming Stretford to Manchester Road later in the season.