It was a mixed set of results for Lindow Cricket Club on Saturday against Romiley as the 1st XI secured a maximum 25 points to go top of the league but the 2nd team collapsed to a defeat that they will want to quickly put behind them.
On a sunny afternoon at Upcast Lane, Lindow's 1st team batted first on what to proved to be an excellent pitch for batting. Opener Chris Taylor was aggressive from the start, launching the Romiley opening bowlers for sixes. However it was Australian Brady Yates who proved to be the cornerstone of the Lindow innings hitting a superb second century of the season and finishing on 131. The home team's middle order provided solid support that saw the innings finish on 253-9.
A tight and aggressive opening spell from bowlers Howarth and Walker reduced Romiley's reply to 45-3 after ten overs but the visitors rallied and continued to aim for victory when settling for a draw would have been the easier option. Lindow were rewarded for their perseverence in the field however, when with nine more runs needed for the win, the last Romiley wicket was taken with a run out.
Sadly for the 2nd XI, Romiley proved too strong and after a disappointing batting collapse when chasing a target of 160, Lindow were comprehensively beaten with only Ben Rose showing resistance with a counterattacking 37.
Earlier, bowling first, leg spinner Matt Ramsden had bowled superbly to claim six wickets for only 17 runs and put Lindow into a promising position, but this weekend it simply wasn't to be.
Match report by Rowan Day.
