30 August 2008, Lindow CC 1st XI vs. Stretton (a)
Draw no Masterpiece for Sketchy Lindow
Stretton 159 for 9 dec, Lindow 138 for 9
Lindow (9pts) drew with Stretton (15)
Lindow travelled to Stretton with high hopes of another win, but found themselves second best on the day and had to settle for a draw in the end, after an absorbing tussle.
Yet another won toss for Lindow saw the home side inserted in order to replicate the successful pattern of recent weeks. Unfortunately, Stretton’s openers had not read the script and batted through the first 20 overs for a stand of 78 before Alex Taylor (2 for 21) removed both quickly, opening the way for James Sutton to claim the next two for ducks to have the visitors back in it at 95 for 4. From then on Lindow’s bowlers were in control, keeping the runs down and taking wickets regularly. Ed Farmer (1 for 11) chipped in with a useful scalp, as did Homi Masud (1 for 35), but it was Sutton who impressed most, completing his second ‘fivefer’ of the season to finish with 5 for 32. Opener Lyons 43 was Stretton’s best effort, but the extras total of 31 told a story of awkward, uneven bounce and a difficult day for the wicketkeepers. A closing score of 159 for 9 seemed gettable for the visitors, for whom a couple of dropped catches had not proved too costly.
Lindow’s openers also provided a steady start, Ed Farmer (20) hitting the ball well and James Bracewell (18), dropped twice early, proceeding a little more uncertainly. Although the track was playing truly enough, S. Critchley tied up one end and left Lindow to score from the other. Because of this, the visitors slowly fell behind the required rate and, when Farmer was caught behind with the score at 41, 13 overs had gone by with further stagnation to follow. Bracewell and Smith (0) both fell as just 29 were added in the next 16 overs and Peel and Slinn both also struggled until Critchley finally left the attack with 30 overs bowled and 74 on the board. Indeed, during this period, Lindow’s most productive scoring was through four sets of 4 byes down the leg side past the keeper standing-up. With over 6 an over needed, Peel (4) finally got a bad ball, but could only paddle a full toss to short mid-wicket. Slinn was finding his range now, striking spinner Flannagan through the covers and down the ground for boundaries, but Kendrick (3) missed a straight one to leave Lindow 101 for 5 with 9 overs left. Alex Taylor struck two quick boundaries in a stand of 25 until, with 5 overs left 34 were needed and the win looked possible again. However, Taylor (11) went for one hit too many and was bowled, but the biggest blow was the maiden over, the 41st, bowled by the returning Critchley to Slinn which put Lindow well adrift of the rate. Farmer was deceived by the keeper and run out for one and Hume was bowled for a first ball duck and it was 133 for 8. Slinn continued to try to attack but top-edged a pull in the 44th over to be caught for 37, leaving Sutton (2*) and Masud (1*) to bat out the draw. Top scorer for Lindow was extras, with an incredible 41! Chief obstacle for the visitors was S. Critchley, who bowled his 18 overs for just 21 runs, taking 3 wickets along the way
Lindow were disappointed not to have made a better fist of this game, but at least they were able to avoid defeat and take the draw points which, as things panned out, were enough to stay out of the drop zone for one more week.
