GARGOYLES KEEP THEIR COOL IN HEAT

In a match of dramatic ebbs and flows against a strong Ashbourne XI on Sunday, Alstonefield Cricket Club held their nerve to secure a famous victory. Winning the toss, captain Salt opted to bat first on a drying wicket. New opening bat Harry Jones (11) was soon showing the perfect balance between scoring and seeing off the accurate new ball attack. A first wicket partnership of 31 with Neil Shotton  (12) was a steady start. From then on, all the Gargoyles’ batsmen showed form and reached double figures before getting out. Mark Wright looked fluent for 15, Dave Singleton nudged 18 in singles and with Andy Siddons’ 14, these two kept Phil Bagshaw company as he notched up his first 50 of the season, in a brilliant display of technically correct aggression.  The innings was rounded off nicely with an unbeaten seventh wicket partnership of 30 off 4 overs by specialist finisher Richard Salt with 22, aided by the more sedate Ian McKay. 185 for 6 off 35 overs looked competitive.

 Ashbourne started ferociously with Lewis bludgeoning one of the quickest 50s to be seen on this ground and were all too soon 80 for 0 off 10 overs. Captain Salt called on Ian McKay ( 7 overs 1 for 12)and Phil Bagshaw (7 overs 3 for 31) to apply the brakes. They did and Ashbourne only added 31 in the next 10 overs. Under pressure, wickets were falling. The ebb and

flow continued until 37 were needed off the last 10 overs. Captain Salt showed his calm authority, a cool head and with canny field placings saw Tony Spybey and Terry White

take stunning boundary catches to dismiss dangerous batsmen. Come the final over 12 were needed off the last 3 balls. The first ball went for 6, the second ball for 2 and with 4 needed off the last ball, Mark Wright bowled an away swinging yorker and the Gargoyles had won by 3 runs.

In such a weather disrupted season it was heartening to see each and every Gargoyle making an important contribution to the result, none more so than Andy Siddons behind the stumps, in his best ever performance with the gloves, conceding only one bye. A beautiful afternoon and one of the best games to grace the playing field.

For an alternative view of proceedings follow the link to the losers’ submission in the Ashbourne Telegraph         >>>>>>>>>>>CLICK HERE

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