The Clifton 2s fell to their second defeat of the season in a disappointing afternoon on the vast playing field of Heywood; failing to chase down what looked like a below par total of 149.
On a warm and sunny afternoon, the hosts chose to bat, but were quickly in trouble at 8/3 after Tom took a wicket with his third ball (caught Elliot), Oscar cleaned up the other opener in his third over, before a run out from Lewis Keogh an over later left the hosts reeling. They rebuilt with a 50 partnership, before the introduction of Jordy with his Aussie off spin brought two wickets in as many overs. Jordy picked up another wicket during his 14 over spell, whilst Lewis Keogh picked up 2-23 from his 5 over spell, with only half them runs coming off the bat.
A chase of 150 should be bread and butter for this batting line up, and it looked to be a walk in the park with Clifton 55/1 having Macca and Dan at the crease with plenty of batting still to come. What followed wasn’t pretty. Dan (25) lost his off stump from a cutter that fooled him, shortly followed by Jordy (0) heading back to the changing rooms for an early shower. Sam Winstanley (4) and Lewis Keogh (0) then came and went quickly and Clifton were suddenly in trouble at 72/5. Luke Jones (0) was then run out with the ball deflecting of his bat onto the stumps whilst trying to make his ground. Very quickly it was 91/7 when Oscar (5) and Charlie Seddon (0) were both caught.
A late rally from the captain Macca (55) to get Clifton within 32 of the win gave the travelling fans some hope, before being caught leaving the hosts 1 wickets to claim victory. Tom Worthington lbw on 4 sealed it.
A fantastic and gritty knock from the captain wasn’t to be enough, as after the second wicket fell, nobody could stay out in the middle with him.