ALSTONEFIELD vs St. ANSELM’S – TUESDAY 2nd JUNE

 

GARGOYLES SLAY STROLLERS

 

Alstonefield Cricket Club chalked up another first on a sunny evening in Bakewell last Tuesday. Making 114 for 7 wickets off their 20 overs, the Gargoyles restricted St. Anselm’s to 104 for 9 in reply. This was the first ever victory over the St. Anselm’s Strollers at the seventh attempt.

 

Winning the toss, the Gargoyles chose to bat first. Accurate bowling by Barton and Litchfield and sharp fielding kept the run rate well below 4 an over and both openers struggled to cut loose. Mark Wright was just starting to play shots when he was stumped for 17. There then followed a mini collapse and after 12 overs Alstonefield were 46 for 5. Not a winning situation.

 

 

There then followed a 64 run stand in 7 overs between Will Siddons and Ian McKay. The contrast in batting styles beautifully illustrated by the four massive sixes in Will’s 31 and the five more sedate fours in Ian’s 31 not out. The innings closed at 114, a decent recovery from a slow start.

 

St. Anselm’s response looked ominous. Openers Bourke and Salaway were in control without completely dominating and despite a fine opening spell by Phil Bagshaw who bowled 4 overs for only 6 runs, they had put on 43 runs when captain Andrew Siddons took a magnificent diving catch to dismiss Bourke off the bowling of Mark Wright. It was just the inspiration required.

 

The skipper then proceeded to take the next 6 wickets in his 4 overs, for only 13 runs. All were catches with John Salt excelling. Ian McKay then trapped the next two batsmen LBW and it was left to the last pair of Sir Richard FitzHerbert and young James Litchfield to make 25 from less than 2 overs. It was too much to ask and the game was won.

 

 

A match full of ebbs and flows in a wonderful setting. The return match will be well worth watching.

 

ALSTONEFIELD 114 for 7 BEAT St. ANSELM’S 104 FOR 9 BY 10 RUNS