On Saturday the Lindow CC first eleven travelled to Alvanley for their 4th round match. The toss was won by the home team who had no hesitation in electing to bat.
Scott Howarth (2/31) and Sam Walker (1/17) made early inroads into the Alvanley batting order, who struggled to cope with the pace of Howarth and the accuracy of Walker.
Alvanley were never able to put together a significant partnership with Alex Bosshardt (2/44), Ben Tyler (2/12) and Ryan O' Brien (1/36) chipping in with regular wickets. Alvanley finished on 9 for 156 after their 50 overs.
The start of the run chase began in positive fashion for Lindow until both openers were removed in successive overs to leave the side 2 for 30.
Over the course of the innings Lindow were unable to get ahead in the game, until Rob Venables strolled to the crease. With the side in trouble at 5 for 91 he plundered the Alvanley attack to all parts of the ground with a match winning 44. The total was chased 6 wickets down, which handed Lindow their 3rd win from 4 matches. This hard fought win puts the team in a good position heading into Round 5.
On a warm and sunny day down at Upcast Lane Lindow 2s recovered from a shocking start to their match with top of the table Alvanley, to get much the better of a match that ultimately ended in a draw.
Batting first Lindow were left shellshocked when last week's centurions were dismissed for a combined one run. Not only that but a further two wickets left the home team reeling at 10-4. It was then that Dave Kendrick dug in to start the recovery mission, which he achieved with a gritty 55. Matthew Ramsden (50*) and skipper Rowan Day (31) then built on these foundations with a quick fire partnership that allowed Lindow to post a respectable total of 193-8.
In reply Lindow bowled tightly but without taking wickets until Day introduced himself into the attack and quickly removed one of the Alvanley openers. The home team then squeezed the visitors with some accurate bowling, ensuring they fell behind the required run rate and with the pressure mounting, began to take more wickets. With Day (3-29) at one end and spinner Ramsden (2-51) at the other, the Alvanley innings lost momentum, finishing on 172-7. So, a winning draw for Lindow against a good team, and some promising signs for the rest of the season.
It was a big night for Lindow U13s on Friday 13th May, when they had 2 teams playing in different leagues on the same evening.
It was an unlucky night for one team who lost to Prestbury in their Cheshire High Peak league match. Lindow were all out for 69 chasing a total of 95. Man of the match was Leo Crossan for getting runs, a wicket and some great fielding.
The other team produced a convincing win in their South Manchester league match against Hale Barns.
Lindow won the toss and chose to field. Tom Rae produced some excellent bowling to pick up 5 wickets for 9 runs, and he also took a great one handed catch to earn man of the match for the 3rd game in a row. Joe Day (3 for 8) and Will
Cousins (2 for 5) picked off the tail enders with the last wicket a stumping by keeper Joel Griffiths, leaving a young Hale Barns team all out for 27 from 11.3 overs.
Hale Barns bowled well but Lindow opening batsmen David van der Linde and Callum Sherrington played patiently to reach the target without loss in 5.3 overs.
Match report by Rowan Day.
