Barns edged in thriller

9:59am Tuesday 15th July 2008

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HALE Barns suffered defeat in a thrilling and hard-fought match against Middlewich on Saturday.

They were lucky to get the game started on time after consistent overnight rain but Dave Saddington won the toss and elected to bat first on a good looking track.

Both openers were dismissed on the score of 14 and then Andy Wood and Graham Dooling set about repairing the damage with a good partnership of 59 when Dooling was caught for 25 runs.

This was quickly followed by a mix-up in calling and both batsmen standing at the same end resulting in the run out of Wood for 30 runs.

The fifth wicket fell at 79 in the 32nd over and a decent total was looking a tough proposition at this stage.

Kharwa Iqbal and Dave Molloy decided the best method would be attack and both batsmen spread the fielding side with some excellent stroke play.

This pair scored 76 off the next 13 overs before Iqbal top edged a pull and was caught for a typically hard hitting 45 runs trying to get another double batting point.

Molloy continued the momentum with Saddington and was finally dismissed for a fine 40 in the final over.

The innings finished on a challenging 180-8 off the 50 overs.

Mike Berks and Andy Murphy bowled a fine opening spell of 15 overs with no luck at all and beat the bat many times without success.

Saddington came on first change and finally found the edge of Bate's bat into the hands of James Dunley at first slip with the score on 54 in 19 overs.

Tight bowling increased the required run rate but wickets were hard to come by until Dunley bowled the other opener in the 35th over.

The run rate had crept up to six per over in the final 10 overs and slow bowler Connolly was doing a good job building the pressure on the batsmen.

Another three quick wickets gave hope to Hale Barns and 27 runs were required off the last three overs with two new batsmen at the crease.

Unfortunately Middlewich batsman Price was in no mood to give up the run chase and he bludgeoned 17 runs off the 48th over which effectively won the match even though Dunley got another wicket in the 49th over.

The winning runs were hit with three balls remaining and Middlewich won by four wickets in an excellent game of cricket. Best bowler was Dunley with 12 overs taking 4-47.

Hale Barns can take great heart from this game and a much strengthened team available in the coming weeks.