Shireshead 120-9, Milnthorpe 131-4

In a rain-affected match Shireshead first team seemed on course for a win against Milnthorpe but in the end had to settle for a losing draw.

Rain delayed the start of the match and play didn’t start until 4pm with the game reduced to 27 overs each. Shireshead won the toss and elected to field.

Milnthorpe started well not losing a wicket until the 19th over with former Shireshead player Phil Bovis, 47, and Steve Bowman, 24, then falling in quick succession. Bovis was trapped lbw by the ever-threatening Dave Jack and Bowman run out.

Milnthorpe’s batsmen continued to score runs at a steady rate, Pod Pennington, 17, Mike Wills, 24 no, making useful contributions to leave Milnthorpe 131-4. Dave Jack, 2-51, and Irfan Qayuum, 1-76, bowled throughout the innings.

Shireshead’s batsmen didn’t start well with Tom Jacques, Paul Yates and Simon Gould all being dismissed cheaply and Shireshead were 7-3 in the fifth over.

Joe Cunliffe, 27,  and Nick Rafferty, 42, steadied the innings before Cuncliffe was caught and bowled by Scott Singleton and Rafferty was dismissed shortly afterwards. With the score on 85-5 the Shireshead innings lost momentum and wickets fell at regular intervals.

Going into the last over, bowled by Singleton,  Shireshead lost two wickets to make it nine down but thankfully survived the last two balls to give the home side a disappointing losing draw and four points, Singleton finishing with 5-40.