On a damp and gloomy Saturday afternoon better suited todarts than cricket, Clifton 1st XI made the trip to Bradshaw for a GMCL PremierDivision clash that will be remembered more for resilience than elegance.
The rain had turned the wicket into a lottery, every ballwas a surprise package and batting first was always going to be a test oftechnique and temperament. Clifton’s innings was a grind from the start, withwickets falling regularly as the ball nipped, bounced, and occasionally rolled.
Only Ben Hamilton showed any real fluency, holding theinnings together with a composed 22 not out. The real damage came from Davenport,whose spell of 5 for 9 ripped through the lower order and saw Clifton bundledout for just 68 in 24.5 overs.
But if the batting faltered, the bowling unit more than madeup for it.
Faced with defending a small total on a low, slow pitch andunder heavy skies, Clifton's bowlers came out with intent and belief, andBradshaw simply couldn’t live with it.
Ollie Sleight was the standout performer, bowling with fireand precision to claim an outstanding 5 for 15 from 9 overs. His earlybreakthroughs broke Bradshaw’s top order and set the tone for what was to come.
Ben Hamilton, not to be outdone, bowled a brilliant spell of4 for 9 off just 5.1 overs, exploiting every ounce of unpredictability from thepitch. His control and aggression under pressure were key in knocking over themiddle and lower order.
There was also a tidy contribution from Fin Testa, whochipped in with 1 for 12 and helped build early pressure.
Clifton’s fielding was sharp, the energy was high, and bythe time Bradshaw slumped to 38 all out in 17.1 overs, it was clear this wasn’tjust a win, it was a statement.
On a day when many teams might have folded, Clifton stoodtall. Defending 68 away from home in the rain isn’t just rare, it’s remarkable.It was a win built on grit, teamwork, and relentless belief.