Ernie Collinson was the star of the show in Shireshead 3rds friendly match against Barrow.starring with bat and bowl and taking a smart catch at slip. Electing to field, Shireshead openers Ernie Collinson (2 for 18) and Tom Atkinson (2 for 25) bowled with aggression and control leaving the home side reeling at one stage at 10 for 3. Collinson clean bowled opener Dawes in his first over and Atkinson replicated the feat in his first, bowling Singh for a duck. Atkinson claimed his second wicket having Callow calmly caught at mid on by debutant Evie McBride. There then followed a threatening partnership between the senior pair Holmes (19) and Singh snr (36) who played with contrasting styles but equal effectiveness. It took a fine catch behind the stumps by Joe Letcley off the bowling off Atkinson and a superb catch by Ryan Danson in the midrift area as Singh drove hard to mid on. Danson himself, after a three year hiatus, soon regained his bowling prowess clean bowling the impressive Whalley for 17. Danson finished with 2 for 33 and Stan Collinson 2 for 18 showing huge potential in a fine spell. The innings ended with a slick catch at slip by Ernie Collinson off the teasing leg spin of Jack Bain.
In reply Shireshead paced their response perfectly as the top 3 did the spade work against some plucky Barrow bowling. Simeon Glenn (17) caressed anything wide to the boundary with a mixture of elegance and power and made good use of an excellent wicket and the pace of Barrow’s young speed merchants. David Sloan picked up the baton making 30 including four 4s in a partnership of over 70 with Collinson. Indeed Collinson showed his class and an ability to defend good balls, rotate the strike and manufacture boundaries. He passed 50, getting to 53 before being cruelly caught on the crease by a shooter. A slight panic ensued but the third Collinson, dad Jonty, brought home the victory as he crashed a boundary to help Shireshead reach the target for only 6 wickets.
Scorecard – https://shires.play-cricket.com/website/results/4515217