Blackpool edge top-of-the table draw
Blackpool CC coach Mike Moore has kindly sent thie following report of the top-of-the-table clash at Shap Road on Sunday against Kendal.
According to our local press, who based the whole of their pre match report on an interview with the Kendal captain, Ikram Ullah, Kendal were expecting to win this match comfortably and then go on to become NL Champions without too much difficulty.
However the Kendal side I saw today look a lot less likely to walk away with the title than many other opponents that we have faced this season.
After the Shap Road club had to cancel the second team fixture the day before, because of severe flooding on the square, the groundstaff and officials worked tirelessly to make sure there was a track fit to play on for our visit today. Full marks to them for that.
Obviously, due to the prevailing conditions, the wicket was always going to be bowler-friendly, at least for the first half of the match, so it was no surprise when Ullah won the toss that he asked the visitors to bat.
Captain Danno's instructions to his batsmen were to make sure we batted the full 50 overs and post as challenging a total as possible .
That is exactly what they did. His "young pretenders" really got stuck in and grafted for every run . So hard did they work at it that pro. Ross McMillan, with 55 wickets to his name prior to this game, finished with 1 for 55 off his 15 overs , a point that our local reporter omitted to mention.
Bowling honours went to off- spinner Ben Simm, who took 5 - 58 in 18 overs.
Ben Simm was Kendal's best bowler |
Adrian Darlington took on the anchor man role for the day and battled his way to 25 before being 3rd man out with the score on 50 in the 24th over. As all those who know the game will tell you, building an innings is all about partnerships with as many batsmen as possible making significant contributions.
Blackpool did just this in very difficult circumstances on a seam and spin - friendly wicket, which had got especially wet at one end.
Adrian Darlington gave Blackpool a solid start |
Good contributions came from Blackpool's middle and lower order. Bash Moore 14, Captain Fantastic 14 and Andy Hogarth 15, including 1 huge 6 off pro McMillan. Blackpool's batting hero was Sajeera Weerakoon, who made a magnificent 54 off 70 balls including four enormous sixes, two off pro McMillan and two off spin king Simm, one of which is still to be found!!
Blackpool pro Saj Weerakoon hit 4 sixes in his half - century |
So with a good workmanlike performance from the Blackpool line up, they posted a very challenging total of 160 all out in the 50th over when Jamie Hogarth was last man out caught for 9 on the mid-wicket boundary.
In reply, Kendal set off as if they had a train to catch, Rick Gleeson's first over going for 13, but the 'big feller' struck back in his 2nd over trapping Kevin Howarth LBW for 9 (9 for 1) and then capturing the prize scalp of Terry Hunte in his next over caught at slip by Stephen " Phil Mitchell" Mercer for no score ( 19 for 2).
Rick has a happy knack of knocking over key players and today was no exception. McMillan (22) and captain Ullah (28), then put Kendal back in front with a stand of 42, before the Kendal pro became the first of Saj's 2 victims, caught at mid-wicket by Chris Taylor. Ullah followed on the same score, falling LBW, smack in front to all - rounder Andy Hogarth (1 for 24 in 9).
Kendal then fell away to 76 for 6 with a wicket each for Weerakoon (2 for 36 in 23) and " Frodo" Smith (1 for 10).
It was at this stage in the 26th over, that Kendal despite their promises to brush Blackpool aside, decided to call it a day on the run chase and settle for a losing draw. By now most of the devils had gone out of the wicket and Gareth Ashburner (17 not out) and Lewthwaite ( 24 not out) both of whom batted well and showed stout resistance to ensure that Kendal denied Blackpool what would have been a well deserved win, finishing on 127 for 6.
Gareth Ashburner helped salvage a draw for Kendal |
This must have been very disappointing for the Cumbrian outfit, who were so sure of their victory chances. Blackpool now leapfrog above them to regain leadership of the League by a two points margin. Leyland, who lost to Morecambe by 6 runs remain in thirrd place, with Netherfield, who took 15 points off St Annes at Highbury Road, in fourth.
Having gone into today's game as some people's underdogs, Danno's boys took 7 points out of the match to Kendal's 4.
Michael Latham's Featured 2nd Division Match of the day
Blackpool v Kendal
Blackpool defeat Kendal at Stanley Park
Deputy Blackpool 2nd XI captain David Booth has kindly submitted this report of his side's victory over Kendal last Sunday:
Blackpool's deputy captain David Booth |
On a hot sunny day at Stanley Park, Blackpool, captained by David Booth for the first time this season, won the toss and following their policy of trying to play positive cricket, and in the pursuit of maximum points to keep up their title challenge, chose to bat first.
Newts (still troubled by a bad back) and Knocker opened the innings and proceeded without alarm until Newts decided he was going to give the opposition some catching practice but once more found a side who did not want to get him out as they dropped him 4 times including twice in 2 balls.
This time knocker also decided to join in the fun and he was put down twice in what proved to be another good opening stand. At one point Knocker had to take evasive action as a beamer was heading for his head but the ball found the middle of his bat and rocketed to the boundary for 4.
On reaching 46, Knocker, who thought Newts should have run a three the ball before, had an attack of the Pietersen's, and tried to reach 50 with a boundary only to find a fielder who could catch. Next man in was Craig Outram who was returning from injury and he showed no ill effects as he was soon dispatching the ball to and over the boundary in his usual style.
Meanwhile out in the middle Newts had finally departed in the forties (a pattern to be repeated all day as 5 batsmen reached 40 but no one went on to 50) and Cauncey, who was also dropped, quickly departed. Out strode our experienced number 5 determined to show what he could do - it was time for Bracey. Sure enough he turned his first ball to square leg and set off but Craig at the non strikers end sent him back. Bracey lost his footing and went down as if he had been hit by Lennox Lewis and stayed down for a good count of nine. The fielder at square leg, possibly distracted, fumbled the ball before picking it up and throwing to the keeper who dropped the ball before picking it up and completing the run out. Bracey stormed off mumbling something about Craig's running and his mood was not helped by Newts who asked him to talk him through it.
Craig departed shortly afterwards no doubt feeling guilty for his part in the run out! And he was soon followed by Mike Taylor. A promising position had quickly become 160 for 6 with nearly 20 overs to go and Jarred Bain and Harrison Clark (both aged 18) at the wicket. Both batsmen played cautiously to start with but gradually started to take the attack to the bowlers which together with excellent running (they ran 2 when the ball went to the keeper who was stood up!) saw the total rise to 221 for 6 after 46 overs at which point a declaration was made with Harrison on 33 and Jarred on 24.
In all Kendal had used 7 bowlers with one trying several different run ups and styles.
Army took the new ball and as usual quickly removed one of the opposition openers and had the other caught off a no ball. This brought the Kendal captain to the wicket and he mixed sound defence with lusty blows as together with the surviving opener his team set off in pursuit of victory. Mike Taylor had shared the new ball with Army and was unlucky that several edges had fallen short of slip before piercing the field and going for 4. It was only the arrival of Luke Melville into the attack that brought the breakthrough.
Blackpool's Luke Melville |
Bez had already had a catch put down at slip before the opening batsman chipped to Newts at short cover. At drinks Kendal were 88 for 2 and with plenty of runs to play with it was time to play the joker.
Knocker has been saying he was a good bowler all year and now he had his chance. Amid remarks of you cant let him get you out he bowled a respectable first over before in his second over he found the edge only for Bracey to stand at slip like a statue as the ball went for 4. At the other end the tireless Army had returned to the attack and removed the
Kendal Skipper. Time was now running short and there were still a lot of overs to bowl so the skipper brought himself back into the attack and Bez returned for a second spell at the other end and removed the veteran Dugdale who was now trying to hold the innings together. Two more wickets fell quickly before Bez had 2 more batsmen caught behind the wicket and finished the innings with a slower ball which totally deceived and bowled the last man.
Kendal were all out for 163 with 6 overs to spare and Bez had claimed his second 5 wicket haul of the season finishing with 5 for 27 off 13 overs.
Special mention must be made of Harrison in the field as he covered every blade of grass but never managed to save the 1. However, the biggest cheer of the day came as the innings neared its end and Bracey at slip actually moved and stopped the ball.
On the whole it was a good effort to claim the 15 points and keep faint
hopes of a league title alive.
