14 June 2008; Lindow CC 1st XI vs Stretton (H)
Bogey Men
Lindow 164 for 9 dec, Stretton 165 for 5
Lindow (11pts) lost to Stretton (25) by 5 wickets
Lindow tried hard, but could not find the performance to beat a strong Stretton side on Saturday as the visitors recorded a solid 5 wicket win with plenty of overs in hand.
Lindow won the toss and decided to bat, initially making good progress as Stretton’s muscular Aussie Clissold struggled to find his rhythm with the new ball. Ed Farmer (12) was first to go, but Fernyhough (22) and Smith (19) took the score to 54 before the tenacious opener also fell and Lindow reached 77 for 2 in the 23rd over before hitting serious trouble when Smith unluckily dragged on off his thigh pad trying to pull left arm spinner Flanagan (3 for 33), who also removed Ben Squires cheaply while toiling opener Critchley snared Dave Farmer on the drive at the start of his second spell to have Lindow in trouble at 90 for 5. Slinn (36) survived to rebuild with Bracewell (25), taking the home side to the start of the last ten overs before wickets began to fall again, and it was again left to the 'new Atlas' Alex Taylor to bring the team home with an unbeaten 21 as the Upcast Lane outfit closed on 164 for 9, a respectable score but well short of the 200 that had seemed to be there for the taking. Critchley’s 5 for 63 from 19 overs was vital for the visitors.
The start of Stretton’s reply was action-packed, as their well known attacking style came into play right from the off. Casey Hughes, at the start of an excellent and unlucky spell, had Jones caught, pulling, for 4 and Alex Taylor trapped no.3 Hill LBW for 0, but some wayward balls were also punished and, when Clissold began an assault on Taylor (1 for 34), Stretton raced to 35 for 2 off just 4 overs. Clissold was lucky to survive a direct hit by Ed Farmer, but he continued to chance his arm and put on 74 with the more sober opener Mullins (30) as the home bowlers struggled to find an answer. Ben Squires (2 for 40) threatened to provide one, finally having Clissold caught at cow corner by Andy Hume for 45 and then removing Mullins to an excellent catch by Bracewell in the covers. When Hughes removed Delaney for 9, it even seemed that Lindow might get back into the game with the visitors 117 for 5, but all the bowlers lacked control and were punished on the quick outfield as Critchley (36*) and Garrod (23*) continued to attack, bringing victory by 5 wickets in the 33rd over. Casey Hughes deserved better for Lindow, bowling with genuine pace to take 2 for 63 from 16.5 overs, but even he was unable to keep the run rate down.
Taking 11 points in defeat was not a disaster for Lindow, particularly as Stretton are something of a bogey side having recorded 4 defeats and a draw in 5 meetings against them, batting first every time.
