Stand in Skipper Sam Walker took the 1st XI to Bunbury on the hottest day of the season so far. The home side won the toss and elected to bat on a dry, Caribbean like wicket.
Howarth and Walker opened the bowling and managed to restrict early run scoring, but were unable to get the breakthrough. Alex Taylor then joined the attack with Ramsden and both had immediate impact picking up 3 quick wickets between them. An important spell of accurate spin bowling from Bull and Ramsden restricted the runs scoring. Ramsden was pick of the bowlers picking up 3 wickets for 30 runs off his 11 overs. Howarth and Walker finished the innings off and Bunbury managed to score 191 for 8 off their 45 overs.
Hoyle and Ramsden opened the batting for Lindow and put on a quick fire 20 off the first couple of overs before both losing their wickets. Pressure built on the visitors however superb innings from Mitchell (54) and Bull (48*) enabled the visitors to ease to victory with 4 overs to spare and 4 wickets left. This 25 point victory pushes the 1st team back into second place in the league, with a tough challenge at Upcast Lane against rivals Cholmondley next week.
Lindow 2nd XI maintain unbeaten run with hard fought win
Lindow 2nd XI maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a hard fought win over newly promoted Bunbury. The game, which was played between 3rd and 4th in the table at the start of the day, was played under a beautiful blue sky, a rock hard wicket and lightning fast outfield. Having won the toss, skipper Inglis decided the track was definitely made to chase on and inserted Bunbury in to have a bat.
Bunbury duly accepted and raced off to a fantastic start reaching 106 for 0 from 18 overs. Inglis attempted to rotate his bowlers in search of the breakthrough and the introduction of Peel brought 2 wickets in successive balls when Bunbury lost L. Greenbury (60), run out by a superb piece of fielding from Kendrick and M. Flynn (40), bowled. The 2 wickets slowed Bunbury's run rate but they kept wickets in hand and mounted a late surge scoring 50 runs in the last 5 overs to finish on 242 for 5. (C. Wickenden – 2 for 72; C. Wearne – 1 for 42; J. Peel – 1 for 37).
Bunbury were clearly confident of getting a positive result after posting a significant total, but Lindow started their reply brightly with J. Peel scoring freely and he quickly posted his third successive 50 in as many weeks before being stumped on 59 with Lindow on 92 off 18 overs.
Wild followed quickly for 28 leaving Lindow on 100 for 2. Day and Kendrick had to rebuild the innings and this caused a slight drop in the run rate until a flurry of boundaries from Kendrick brought the 150 up after 30 overs. However, one shot to many for Kendrick (44) led to him being caught at backward point soon followed by Day (20) and Lindow were 174 for 4 off 33. With the game nicely poised, skipper Inglis joined J. Huq at the crease and the two quickly took the game away from Bunbury posting a 70 partnership off 7 overs, reaching the target with 5 overs to spare. Huq finishing on 43 not out and Inglis 40 not out.
The victory moves Lindow up to second in the table and next week travel to local rivals Over Peover.
Match report by David Kendrick.
