Match Report

First XI vs Winnngton

Hale Barns got the better of an entertaining game of cricket at Winnington Park which ebbed and flowed until the final over. HBCC won the toss and decided to bat on a dry looking track which had a slight hint of green.

Joe Cooper went early pushing at ball which was well held at gully. This brought Sujoy Jaiswal to the wicket to join young Jake Warner. Both were watchful early on until first Jaiswal and then Warner stepped on the accelerator. Jaiswal (40) in particular looked in great form and didn't look in any danger at all.

However, two needless run outs were to wreck HBCC's good start. First Jaiswal was sent back by Warner and then Warner (24) himself fell victim in a passage of play which wasn't perhaps 'callings' finest hour. This was a real pity as Warners was starting to bat with real class.

Wood and Robinson were left to rebuild the innings. However, the introduction of Begbie for Winnington Park knocked the stuffing out of Barns' middle order. In his first over, Robinson nicked a belter to the keeper and had Filson adjudged LBW first ball. HBCC were in tatters at 82 for 5.

This brought Jordan Collins to the wicket who, along with Wood, started the slow process of building towards a total of 170. Collins proved the more fluent of the two unleashing a couple of flawless cover drives off the bowling of Begbie (3-30) whereas Wood scratched around like a farmyard hen. Begbie then produced an absolute peach to bowl Collins (25) to end a very promising cameo which had provided some much needed impetus.

This was followed up by an unbroken stand of 65 - the highest of the day - between James Dunley (27) and Wood (48 not out.) Dunley looked good in delivering an innings of substance which he has so long threatened. Both he and Wood took the score past the 170 mark required for max batting points picking up singles and the occasional boundary with some controlled hitting. HBCC closed happy at tea on 175/6.

Despite the return of the club's best runner, Mike Berks, Dunley and Molloy took the new cherry. Dunley picked up from last week and bowled really well. He picked up the first wicket (caught Saddington) from an attempted smear over midwicket.

This brought Hine (who was to prove a thorn in Barns' side) to join Wales at the wicket. Wales (31) looked a good player and drove confidently through the covers and square of the wicket. Indeed, it was slightly surprising when, after a second wicket partnership of 31, Dunley cleaned him up.

Robinson picked up the cheap wickets of Spibey and Atherton with both Dunley and Berks bowling McKeown and Begbie respectively - a total of 6 Winnington players had their castles rattled.

Hine (80 not out) continued taking on the Barns bowling generally pouncing on anything short - or in the case of Robinson's 3rd ball very full - sending several balls to meet the calcium chloride (premium grade) tanks in the neighbouring yard.

Barns never got their man but were able to take regular wickets and keep Hine from strike in the main. WP needed an achievable 7 from the last over with two wickets in hand. However Dunley managed to bowl a wicket maiden and WP closed on 169/9.

A really enjoyable game yielding 17 points

HBCC Highlights:

Wood 48*

Jaiswal 40

Dunley 27

Collins 25

Warner 24

Dunley  4-59

Berks 2-23

Robinson 2-35

MVP - James Dunley