7 June 2008, Lindow CC 1st XI vs Chelford (A)
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Lindow CC 160 all out, Chelford 163 for 9
Lindow (13pts) lost to Chelford (25) by 1 wicket
Lindow’s performance at Chelford on Saturday was an egregious series of highs and lows as they fought their way out of trouble with the bat into a winning position before seemingly throwing the game away in the field only to give themselves one final chance at victorious redemption, until an ugly dropped catch with Chelford still 2 runs adrift finally allowed the home side to sneak away with the points.
Having won the toss, Lindow’s batsmen found the wicket slow and uneven and Chelford’s bowlers, with the returning Shallcross to the fore, in a miserly mood. After Ed Farmer (18) made things look deceptively easy, a series of mistimed shots claimed quick wickets for Slepikowski (4 for 84) as Lindow sank into trouble, suddenly hardly able to get the ball off the square against a tight one-saving field. Shallcross found a good one that pitched middle and hit off to remove Foreman, while Mike Parr’s natural attacking instincts were ill suited to conditions and he too eventually fell to Slepikowski for 5. Paul Slinn, meantime, entered the zone – the strokeless zone that is – as he dropped anchor and attempted to wait out Chelford’s front-line bowlers. Dave Farmer made a brisk 17 to move the score on a bit and then Slinn finally sliced an attempted drive off Cook (2 for 11) and was caught at point for 8, having been at the crease for 24 overs, and Lindow reached its nadir at 86 for 8 when Burgoyne was out. However, at that point Shallcross did finally take his sweater, having gone for only 28 from his 18 overs, and Alex Taylor and Dave Kendrick finally got some loose bowling to feast upon. Kendrick, in his normal aggressive way, made 23, in a partnership of 42 and then Taylor gradually took over, striking three enormous sixes and generally playing excellently for a 44 that demoralized the home side, driving Lindow to a potentially winning score of 160 before he was last out in the last over.
Despite an early LBW victim for Alex Taylor, neither he nor Andy Hume were comfortable with their run ups, and Chelford feasted on bowling that provided frequent full-tosses, wide long hops and, from Taylor, no-balls. Dave Kendrick also fared no better, conceding 22 from his 4 overs. Parry (46) and Dickinson (40) added 72 in just 13 overs before Hume finally trapped Dickinson LBW, at which point the game changed as the home side’s lack of confidence with the bat was exposed. Alex Taylor (2 for 42) removed Parry to a good catch by Kendrick at point, but it was Ed Farmer, bowling his off-spin to good effect, that almost won the game for Lindow. First he had Shiells caught at square leg, before inducing Keating to leave one alone that turned back and bowled him. Hume chipped in to remove Duffy and Farmer then had Slepikowski caught and mid-on before bowling Genes. Prentice (11) reached double figures but then inexplicably shouldered arms to one from Hume that hit middle stump, to leave Chelford 9 down with 3 still to get and veterans Cook and Shallcross at the crease. Then Cook obligingly spooned Farmer straight into mid-wicket’s midriff, only to see the simple chance spilled. When Cook hit the first ball of the next over for 4, the home side celebrated victory wildly. For Lindow, there were only a bewildering series of ‘if onlys’ and a tally of 32 extras, with 11 no balls and 4 wides among them.
