northwichcc

Ashton-on-Mersey (AOM) - 105 all out (35.4 overs)
Northwich - 110/2 (17.5 overs)
Points - Northwich (20), AOM (1)

Northwich cruised to a 20 point victory over title rivals Ashton-on-Mersey. A Man-of-the-Match performance from stalwart Ant Shaw put them a step closer to the Division A title. Furthermore, with the visitors only picking up a solitary point from the fixture - Northwich have ensured that it should now be a two-horse race for that title between themselves and Congleton CC. Both sides were somewhat depleted by holidays and 1st team call-ups but it was Mark O'Neils' men that stood up and took control of the contest at Moss Farm.
Captain O'Neil had the 1st key decision to make (yet again!) as his AOM counterpart called wrong at the toss! Unsurprisingly, he asked the visitors to bat first on a lively looking wicket and immediately handed the new ball to Matt Lightburn and Ant Shaw. Lightburn started with a maiden but Shaw went one better from his 1st over. Safe hands from John Hughes at 1st slip helping him to a wicket maiden. Lightburn soon joined in though - with a stone wall LBW decision removing the other opening batsman. There seemed to be healthy competition building between the two bowlers now as they sensed more wickets were coming. But when the 3rd wicket finally came - it was all about wicket-keeper Andrew Pickstock rather than the bowler (Shaw)! He pulled off a sensational one handed catch that really set the standard for what followed.
Next to show off their safe hands was youngster James Plant who had been drafted in from last weeks' 3rd XI. He held onto a fierce drive into the covers to given Lightburn another wicket. It was now two a piece for the bowlers! Shaw then went 3-2 ahead with the help of another 3rd team 'superstar', Andy Gibbon, who took a solid catch at gully. Shaw was at it again from his very next ball with a wicked delivery that clean bowled one of the visitors promising youngsters. On a hat-trick, the field moved in - and Shaw bowled down leg side!! Ashton-on-Mersey were now in real trouble on. And there cause got worse when Lightburn repeated Shaws' trick of two wickets in as many balls just 3 overs later. He picked up Northwichs' 7th wicket via another stunning one-handed catch from a promoted 3rd team regular! This time it was Danny Ward who provided the support act at mid-on. The off stump was sent tumbling the next ball to match what Shaw achieved! Now it was Lightburn on a hat-trick and at least he bowled it straight! Unfortunately it was met by a solid defensive shot. The visitors had now crumbled to 67/8!
O'Neil and his men were then given a slight reality check as the tail-enders picked up a few boundaries by swinging the bat 'hard'! He responded by replacing both bowlers after mammoth 14 over spells (for those still following their battle - it ended 4-4!) with his spin twins Ashley Sefton and Pete Gibbon. The pair slowed the run rate down successfully and Sefton finally ended the entertaining 30 run partnership with the visitors No.10 chopping onto his own stumps! The Ashton-on-Mersey innings was finally ended on 105 by another catch! Sefton picking up his 2nd wicket thanks to Plant, again! It really was a great day in the field for last weeks' 3rd teamers!

Bowling figures. Lightburn 4-33 from 14 overs, Shaw 4-34 from 14 overs, Gibbon 0-11 from 4 overs & Sefton 2-15 from 3.4 overs!

Northwich used their 13th different opening pairing of the season (including cup games) and it proved to be an unlucky number for them! Pete Gibbon and Lightburn were asked to start the innings but they had scored just 6 when the 1st wicket fell. Lightburn (4)was forced to depart after being bowled. This brought the 'in-form' Hughes to the crease. He, and Gibbon were then tasked with re-building the innings. Their job was never going to be easy against the new ball and a pitch that was clearly mis-behaving. Gibbon in particular was given a good working over with a few balls simply jumping off a good length! As a result, progress was slow from him but Hughes began to open up at the other end. A series of boundaries saw the opening bowler out of the attack and his replacement got the same treatment!
Gibbon finally joined in the fun with a text book drive for four but he was finally put out of his misery after an excellent 47 run partnership. He was trapped LBW for a battling 14. This brought the days' STAR man to the crease, Shaw. Any confidence gained by taking the 2nd wicket soon vanished as Shaw also took the aerial route from ball one! Hughes was taking full advantage of any loose deliveries and brought up his 50 in confident fashion. A towering 6 from the final ball of the 15th over took him to the land-mark and the teams to the drinks break with the scoreboard showing 73/2!
What came next was simply amazing as Northwich took just 17 balls to win the game after the drinks break! A punishing 37 runs were scored from those deliveries with Shaw being the main beneficiary! He scored 17 runs off the 17th over and also pinched the strike for what proved to be the final over of the game! He then hammered another 2 boundaries before reluctantly taking a single from the 4th ball of the over! Hughes ended the game the very next ball in entertaining fashion! Another huge six into the pavilion wall saw them past their target in double-quick time! Hughes ended unbeaten on 60 and Shaw finished on 31*.

After the game, captain Mark O'Neil commented 'We brought in a few new faces today and I just hoped they'd gel as a team. The lads only came together in the the dressing room at 1pm. Looking back though, coming together was just a beginning, Keeping together was good progress, but, it was working together that ultimately won the game.'

Northwich make the short trip to Stretton CC this coming Saturday, 1.30pm start.

Northwich line-up:
P Gibbon, M Lightburn, John Hughes, A Shaw, A Sefton, D Ward, A Gibbon, S James, A Pickstock (wk), J Plant, M O'Neil (c)