2 May 2009, Lindow CC 1st XI vs. Wirral (h)
A Troublesome Tail
Lindow 174 all out, Wirral 125 for 9
Lindow (17pts) drew with Wirral (9)
Lindow had much the better of the its first home game of the season but had to settle for the draw in the end, as Wirral’s last pair clung on stubbornly to avoid defeat.
The visitors, fresh from an opening day win, won the toss and put Lindow in to bat in good conditions. Initially, the home side started well as Wirral’s young opening bowlers struggled to settle, but when Jav Huq (5) and Matty Law (10) were both out in the 4th over the latter to a disappointing run out the home side were in need of consolidation at 22 for 2. Adam Clarke struggled with the pace of the track but stayed with Paul Slinn for 7 overs before edging behind for 3 and then Slinn’s promising innings of 27 ended when he was LBW to Wirral skipper Peel, who then also claimed Foreman for a patient 18 to have Lindow in some difficulty at 77 for 5. Ed Farmer, though, played fluently on his return to the team and got good support from impressive debutant Konda (18) in adding 37 in 11 overs to provide a decent platform going into the last 10 overs. Mike Parr (6) didn’t last long but when Farmer was trapped LBW for 34 at 145 for 8, Andy Hume took advantage of some lacklustre bowling, receiving good support from Grover (8) in taking Lindow to maximum batting points before both fell in the last over, Hume being run out off the last ball of the innings with the score at 174. Peel’s canny 10 over spell was Wirral’s best effort, yielding 3 for 24. The home side were entitled to be satisfied with their efforts, in scrapping their way to a good total with contributions all the way down the order.
After a couple of overs by Grover and the returning Masud with the new ball it was clear that the visitors would struggle to mount a successful chase, Masud struck an early blow to have Jones (0) caught behind and then took a smart return catch off Gambles (6) with the score at 21 and the scoring rate just 2 an over. Grover (3 for 46) got in on the act to bowl Slight off the inside edge for 11 and then removed the stubborn Clewes with a peach, bowling him for 22. Masud then removed Almond (0) and Develing (5) in quick succession to have the visitors in disarray at 57 for 6 with 20 overs still to go. However, Wirral mounted some resistance in the form of Dabbs (32), who took advantage of the change bowling to edge the score along and eat up overs until Law (2 for 6) picked up both Peel and Dabbs, leaving the last pair to survive 5 overs to secure the draw. This they proceeded to do despite the return of both Grover and Masud to the fray for one last, vain, charge. Nevertheless, a 17 point return from a solid all-round display is a welcome step forward for Lindow, for whom Homi Masud shone with the ball, taking 4 for 30 from 14 overs in which he bowled with real authority.
