Cricket: Top of the table clash ends in draw
Lindow 1st team travelled to table topping Mere with hopes that they could regain the top of the table spot on a damp and cool day.
Skipper, Walker, won the toss and decided to invite the home side to bat, with the intention of restricting runs and then chasing the score down on a slow wicket but quick outfield. The visitors started well with Walker picking up 3 early wickets with the score only on 30. Lindow thought they had the upper hand, until Mere batsman Iqbal came to the crease. An early catch went down and he never looked back, notching up 110 runs in a classy manner. The home side utilised the overs well and finished on a score of 273 for 8 off the 45 overs.
Lindow changed the batting order slightly in an attempt to try and get off to a quick start with the big run chase ahead. Hoyle made a great start hitting a quick 50 off the first 7 overs, supported by Mitchell. After reaching 90, the partnership was broken and Mere tightened up their bowling. The run rate slowed and a number of wickets fell around Ramsden who scored a controlled 64 not out. Lindow were unable to get to the large target and ended the innings on 220 for 8. A good draw for the Lindow against a Mere side who are unbeaten this season so far.
The 2nd team also welcomed Mere to Upcast Lane in another table topping clash. The visitors won the toss and invited Lindow to bat. Three early wickets fell which put the home side on the back foot at 35 for 3, however opener Gedroge and stand-in skipper / club Chairman Kendrick rebuilt the innings. Kendrick took his time before taking to the Mere attack and hitting a confident 44, moving the score onto a more respectable 110. The middle order rallied with Mahmood hitting a quick fire 20, before the final wickets fell leaving the home side with a less than par total of 154 to defend.
A couple of early wickets were crucial for Lindow if they were to win this game and it took until the 4th over for Mahmood to pick up the two openers. Shah came to the crease and started to play some classy shots, pushing the score quickly into the 70's. The bowling was rotated with Stubbs and Day introduced to the attack, both picking up wickets but unable to remove Shah who was leading Mere to victory. Kendrick then came on to bowl in a spell that changed the game, supported by Mahmood (3 for 40) back on at the other end.
A wicket in his first over for Kendrick left only 3 wickets to get with 25 runs required for the visitors. Mahmood managed to find the outside edge of Shah's (78) bat which was taken sharply by keeper Huq. A couple more boundaries off edges brought the victory into Mere's sight, until Kendrick (3 for 17) bowled two superb overs clearing up the tail with 9 runs to spare and ensuring the 2nds remained unbeaten after 10 games.
Photo: 1st team batsman Matthew Hoyle hitting 4 runs on his way to 60.
Match report by David Kendrick.
