2008-04-19

Lindow Take Cold Comfort from Opening Day Draw

Stockport 160 for 9 dec, Lindow 103-9

Lindow (7pts) drew with Stockport (15)

On a day cold enough to keep Scott of the Antarctic safely in his tent, Lindow opened the new season with a fortunate draw at league newcomers Stockport.

Lindow skipper James Bracewell won the toss and elected to field first, handing the new ball to Henry Grover and debutant Brian Armstrong. Both took a couple of overs to warm up but soon began to thud the ball into keeper Burgoyne’s gloves at respectable pace given the slow and soft playing surface. Armstrong (3 for 32) made the breakthrough in his second over by bowling opener Barber for a duck, and Grover soon accounted for his partner for 11, leaving the home side 23 for 2 in the 11th over. Youngster Facer played correctly and securely at number 3 and combined well with the more belligerent Beaver to compile the stand of 87 that gave Stockport an initiative they never lost. Ben Squires (1 for 20) had Facer well caught at mid-wicket by Alex Taylor for 33 and Beaver finally fell to Armstrong for 69 soon after. Although the rest of the Stockport batsmen failed to press home their advantage in the last 10 overs, a final return of 160 for 9 looked to be a strong position. At least Lindow had the satisfaction of picking up maximum bowling points when Grover (3 for 32) bowled Rouenly in the last over, and all the bowlers used showed signs of promise for the weeks ahead.

Porritt and Facer, opening with good pace for the home side, recorded three early identikit dismissals by bowling fast, full and straight to remove Foreman (3), Smith (4) and Slinn (0) and from 15 for 3 it was a struggle for the visitors to make any impression on the game. Skipper Bracewell battled gamely until falling to the change bowling for 12 and Stockport then proceeded to use no fewer than 8 bowlers as they tried to bowl Lidow out in the gathering gloom. When Hoyle (0) fell to left arm spinner Green (4 for 31), it was 42 for 5 and an early finish seemed likely. However, Ben Squires played very nicely and Armstrong (11) gamely kept him company as the overs ticked past. 3 more wickets fell at 64, when Armstrong (11), Burgoyne (0) and then Squires (29) all fell to spin and Lindow faced the last 14 overs with just 2 wickets in hand. Enter youngster Alex Taylor, who made light of the situation with some clean and sensible striking of the ball in compiling a stand of 39 with Andy Hume before falling in the 43rd over for a very promising 25. Much to the home side’s frustration, last man Grover joined Hume (14*) in resolutely blocking out the last two overs with few alarms to earn the visitors an unlikely draw.

So, in escaping with a draw from a game in which they were second best for most of the day Lindow can take some satisfaction as they look to improve as the season develops.