Lunefield Park was soaked in sunshine for the start of the Division 4 match.  On a refreshed wicket Shireshead stand in captain Sloane asked Kirkby to bat first.  Despite some good bowling Kirkby Lonsdale plundered some early runs and reached 29 without loss until a tight line by Aiden Weir (3/27) cleaned up Chris Hesketh (25).  Shireshead backed their young opening bowlers and Weir and Thomas Atkinson (2/25) duly obliged with 4 further wickets to leave Kirkby Lonsdale floundering at 45 for 4.  Luis Grocutt (1/23) popped the dangerous Treverton with the help of a super catch by Aiden Weir at deep square leg.  Ernie Collinson (1/14) and the ageless Moulsdale (3/8) dried out the Kirkby tail to leave the home side washed up at 102 all out.

With the constant ramblings of a summer afternoon at Devils Bridge in the background Shireshead were aware of Teasdale’s (3/14) skill with the ball and played watchfully on the front foot.  James Sutcliffe (37) kept releasing the pressure with several glorious straight shots including a towering 6 to long on.  Teasdale kept Kirkby in the game and then Sinclair (4/24) threatened to leave Shireshead stuck in the 60’s. But Shireshead youngsters didn’t overindulge and waited for the opportunities to come. Ernie Collinson (15no) controlled the game to the end and saw his teammate Atkinson (15no) hit the winning runs in the 37th over.  Consecutive away wins at Coniston and Kirkby Lonsdale mean Shireshead youngsters continue their away day adventures at Westgate on Sunday 27/6, in high spirits.

Thanks to Jonty Collinson for the match report