Lindow skipper Walker won the toss and elected to bowl on what looked like a wicket that would only get flatter. The home side started strongly and the small ground, plus fast outfield assisted Mobberley to score quickly.
Lindow's seam attack was fired up and Grover finally found what little the wicket had to offer and broke the opening partnership. Shortly after Howarth, at the other end, got his man with some accurate and aggressive short bowling. Walker and Ramsden joined the attack, both picking up wickets, however the home side built on their innings and with 10 overs to go were given the green light to attack and the short boundaries began to be exploited.
Mobberley charged to a total of 226 for 5 which looked a strong score in the conditions.
Lindow took to the crease and started positively with Bracewell and Baker putting the ball to the boundary on a quickening outfield. The home sides openers tightened things up and began to reap the rewards, taking out a few of the Lindow top order for little runs. Bull (45) started the resistance but with wickets falling around him the run chase looked less and less likely.
Walker (24) joined Bull looking to stabilise the innings and stubbornly grafted through a strong bowling attack. Gradually Lindow crept into the points zone before Bull's wicket finally fell. Parr (23) came in and played some classy shots moving the score on further, however as the innings came to an end Lindow ended on 163 for 8. A well-deserved draw for the visitors that could prove valuable come the end of the season.
Following last week's defeat, Lindow 2nd XI returned to Upcast Lane looking to get back to winning ways against Ashley 2nd XI. On winning the toss, the Lindow captain, A. Inglis, decided to bat first and the Lindow openers, J. Venables and A. Inglis started strongly against some accurate Ashley bowling moving the score to 61from 18 overs.
Whilst trying to accelerate the run rate J. Venables was caught for 26 but R. Day consolidated the innings with an assured 25 before being bowled with the score on 103 from 30 overs. The remaining overs all belonged to Lindow as with wickets in hand the batsmen were able to play their shots and allowed Lindow to finish the innings on 212 for 5, with D. Kendrick and R. Lees chipping in with 24 and 19 respectively anchored by A. Inglis with a classy 108 not out.
Following the tea interval, K. Ahmed made two early breakthroughs leaving Ashley on 25 for 2 off 12 overs but from here Ashley consolidated well. However, facing some tight bowling from K. Ahmed, B. Rose and the returning J. Stubbs they fell well behind the required run rate being at one stage 74 for 2 off 30 overs. This effectively ended the game as a contest, but some late hitting coupled with the fall of a few other wickets saw Ashley end their innings on 145 for 5 giving Lindow the better half of a draw.
Next weekend sees Lindow at home once more when they welcome Lymm Oughtrington Park for the start of the second half of the season.
Match report by David Kendrick.
