Lymm Oughtrington Park CC 1st XI v Prestbury on Sat 28 Jun 2008 at 13:30
Lymm Oughtrington Park CC Won 20 Points
Prestbury were the latest visitors to Oughtrington Lane, resurgent after a sluggish start to the season. Knowles’ knack of winning key tosses continued, as he won the toss and passed up the chance of a maximum 25 points by asking Prestbury to bat, which seemed a sensible decision based on the prevailing conditions.
Lymm got off to a flying start as Scholes, swinging the ball both ways, removed the dangerous Montgomery with a pearler of a delivery that took the top of off stump. Prestbury shrugged off this early setback however, as their Sri Lankan over seas star, in partnership with their number three looked to rebuild. In reply, Lymm struck a heavy blow when Wright had the Sri Lankan well caught, low down by Scholes at second slip. With Scholes removing the number three, LBW, soon after, Lymm bowlers had both ends to work at, and they capitalised upon this by taking further wickets at regular intervals.
For the second week running, Lymm looked as though they might be able to keep the opposition to a total of under 100, but once again they struggled to take the remaining few wickets, as the Prestbury tail doggedly wagged, providing some valuable late runs, definitely more than simple nuisance value. Prestbury closed on 114.
Lymm were rocked early in reply, as first Garner went edging behind, then Oakes and Scholes were both bowled by deliveries that kept low. In the blink of an eye Lymm found themselves 9-3, a long way off the prospective target of 115. Wright joined McIntosh at the crease and steadied the Lymm ship as they started to build a much needed partnership.
At 55-3 with the match very much still in the balance this good partnership was broken as Wright’s vigil was ended for an excellent 24. When McIntosh’s workmanlike knock was brought to an end shortly after, Lymm found themselves back in the doldrums again with the two new batsmen, Knowles and Miller, arriving at the crease on a precarious looking 60-5.
Again the rebuilding process started, and although both batsmen survived vigorous LBW shouts, both looked relatively solid in progressing the partnership to 98-5. With the finish line just about in site, Knowles was bowled, much to the Sri Lankan’s delight, then Miller committed the cardinal sin of getting caught in front of the wicket very next ball! The match swung yet again and with three wickets remaining, Lymm still required another 18 runs to secure victory. With the Prestbury bowlers high on adrenaline, and with the heady scent of an unlikely win in the air, the remaining Lymm batsmen knew they would need all their steely determination to repel Prestbury advances.
Up stepped the in form Whelan who, with solid support from Wilmer, made light of the pressurised situation, carving through the off-side field like a hot knife through butter on his way to yet another ‘red-inker’. Lymm reached the total without further scare, to secure another twenty point haul.
With half of the season now gone, Lymm occupy a more than handy position of fourth in the table, less than a win away from a promotion berth. After a shaky start to the season which yielded only draws from the first three games, Lymm have done well to recover, currently being the form team after winning four of their last five outings. At this stage, it’s now important that all players pledge to redouble their efforts. An extra 10% here and there could be the difference between us playing 1st division cricket next year!!!
Prestbury Batting
114 for 10
Lymm Oughtrington Park CC 1st XI Bowling
Lymm Oughtrington Park CC 1st XI Batting
115 for 7
Prestbury Bowling
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Umpire :
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Scorer :
C Bradshaw