Ruthless bowling performances from Captain Jayam Patel and Ethan Harding helped Wilmslow Cricket Club claim a 22 run victory to leapfrog Stretton Cricket Club into the promotion places of the Cheshire Alliance Cricket League Division 1.
The visitors were set a below par score of 127-9 to chase down, but Wilmslow skittled them out for 105 runs at Wilmslow Leisure Centre.
After Elliot Rowe got the brake through with spin to take two weeks in an opening spell, Patel and Harding shared seven of the remaining eight wickets to guide the hosts to victory.
Wilmslow had earlier won the toss and elected to bat first and never really took advantage and looked in trouble when they finish their 40 overs with just 127 on the scoreboard.
The skipper decided to give the nod to spin bowler Rowe and whether it was a stroke of genius or maybe a gamble which paid off from Patel, Rowe came up with the goods as he took two vital early wickets which Wilmslow needed.
It looked like it would be a simple task for Stretton to make 128 runs who, like Wilmslow, had hopes of closing the gap to Port Sunlight CC at the top of the league. And after a miserable start to their innings, they seemed to have steadied the ship as no wickets fell for a number of overs.
Patel then brought himself into the attack along with another one of the Rowe family, Toby and they both took wickets.
At 80-4 it still looked as if Stretton would go on to take the victory, but Patel had another bowling change up his sleeve. In came the talented Harding which prompted a massive breakthrough for the Squirrels.
Harding alongside his skipper were in a riotous mood, both picking up wickets in their opening over and they dismantled the rest of the shell-shocked Stretton batsman.
Patel ended the Stretton innings in style taking the final wicket and they were left wondering how they only managed 105 all out. The triumphant captain ended on figures of 3-30 and Harding on a staggering 4-8 moving Wilmslow up to 2nd in the division.
Next stop for Wilmslow is an away trip next Saturday against The Groves CC- XI, who are lying just above the relegation places, and Patel and Co. will be hoping to keep up this winning mentality and momentum with four games left of the season.
Match report by Chris Heal.
