Week 17 Review

Shireshead opened up the Division 1 championship race when they completed a season’s treble against pacesetters, Heysham. The home side were in a strong position at 69/1 with Lewis Plackett (46) and Jamie Antcliffe (31) in control, but Tom Jacques (3/38) trapped Antcliffe lbw, and Jacques combined with Joe Oliver (3/28) to strangle the innings, Heysham finishing on 149/8. Sam Calverley (2/32) and the returning Andrew Ideson (2/26) had Shireshead in real trouble at 37/5, but a controlled 40 from Dave Jack brought them back into the game. Damien Keegan turned to Plackett (2/16) who reduced Shireshead to 129/8. Although Joe Oliver (33 not out) was batting well, he was running out of partners until his dad, Phil, (13 not out) joined him at the crease and the pair sealed the 2 wicket win. Westgate are the new leaders, 1 point ahead of Heysham. Garry Tattersall (12) and Craig Buchanan (29) added 43 for the first wicket, but they then collapsed to 83 all out due to Thomas Bentley (3/24), Andy Dugdale (4/18) and Paidi Robinson (3/3). Kendal 2nds couldn’t capitalise on their bowlers’ efforts as no one made double figures as the Westgate attack, led by Zak Buchanan (3/9) skittled them for 30.

Jason Bingley (26) and Ben Lenton (43) were the main scorers in Arnside’s 149, Matthew Percy taking 3/30 and Andrew Metcalfe (3/24). Harvey Williams (54) and Mark Beaumont (41) seemed to have put Kirkby Lonsdale on track for their elusive first win of the season at 106/3 but an all too familiar collapse followed as Jim Crawford (4/21) and Alex Davidson (4/49) bowled them out for 126. The pattern of good starts and batting collapses was repeated by Sedgwick. A 55 opening partnership from Carl Bevan (28) and Aaron Lomas (36) was squandered as Paul Simpson (4/28) achieved his best figures since his return to Warton. Graeme Crowther (32) and Rory Batson (31) added 69, and Jack Bolton (20 not out) took them to a 6 wicket win. Curtis Nicholson is another to have returned to cricket this summer and he took a best of 5/13 for Burneside as only Richard Neville (20) made double figures in Bare’s 56 all out. Ethan Ellwood hit 42 as Burneside cantered to a 9 wicket win.

Holme look certain to win Division 2 after a 9 wicket win against second place Shireshead 2nds. They are 25 points clear, and 57 points ahead of Ambleside in third which means that they can secure promotion in the next two weeks. Only Mike Mead (26) and Adam Coates (21) resisted Lee Barnes (4/35) and Joel Bibby (3/28) before Brendan Herron (30), Liam Teasdale (44 not out) and Richard Herron (29 not out) knocked off the 116 required for the loss of 1 wicket. Ambleside were restricted to 121, but them bowled out Netherfield 3rds for just 22, who recovered on Sunday to score 167/9 against Windermere who could only make 79 in response. Windermere had beaten Cartmel the previous day as Paul Gillespie (5/41) limited Cartmel to 126 , Will Anderson (28) and Chris Gallagher York (26). Gillespie (29) and a patient 60 not out from Sam Harrison completed the 6 wicket win.

It was a family affair as Jon Mason (30), Phil Mason (29), Harry Mason (24) and Charlie Gaw (24) took Silverdale to 155, Jacob Vaughan taking a season’s best 5/24 for Westgate 2nds who were then blown away for 60 by Phil (4/20) and Jon (4/28). Graham Dodds (49) was the main reason Carnforth 2nds totalled 131 against Ingleton for whom Graham Kellett (3/32) and Luke Gorst (3/22) bowled well, but despite Kellett (31) and Josh Capstick (27), Ingleton lost their last 7 wickets for 21 runs, Glenn Russell taking 4/16 and Archie Rich 3/37. Mike Burton’s 36 was the crucial innings as Coniston beat Sedgwick 2nds by 17 runs in a low scoring game. Ben Harvey (5/14) dismissed the home side for 110, but only a Boycott like innings (28 not out from 110 balls) from Ian Whitehead resisted for long as Sedgwick slid to 30/5 as Elliott Newby (3/12) held sway. Patrick Cantley gave them hope, but Robert Warne took 4/13 to reduce them to 72/9. Harvey (17) added 21 for the last wicket, but just as Coniston were starting (3/35) to feel nervous Burton (2/15) bowled Harvey.

A century from Heysham stalwart, Richard Townsend (113 not out) helped his side recover from 22/3 to score 189/4 against Carnforth 3rds. Townsend faced 119 balls and hit 14 fours and a six and received good support from Harry Wallbank (25) and James Hesketh (42 not out). Sam Tomlinson (32) and Liam Burrow (21) took Carnforth to 56/1, but Chris Boak (3/35) and Wallbank (3/1) supervised a collapse to 97 all out. Heysham 2nds are now 31 points clear of Morecambe 3rds who beat Galgate by 6 wickets. Jack Bewsher (32) and Rob Speak (25) enabled Galgate to score 151/7, Alex Hill taking 3/26 and George Battersby 3/33. Kevin Demain (75) continued his rich vein of form and Jacob Orr made 31 not out as the target was reached in 27 overs.

Bolton le Sands boosted by the return of Adam Dyson (36) and Mark Clarkson were able to defend 105 against Silverdale 2nds who could only post 57 in reply. Dyson took 3/15, Andy Carruthers 3/10 and Sam Gates 3/5. Jack Dougan took 4/27 for Silverdale. Tom Keast (25) top scored for Holme 2nds as George Needham (4/21) restricted them to 124, but despite Needham’s 48, Leven Valley finished on 112/7, Carl Weiss taking 5/23. Milnthorpe beat Arnside in a 7 run thriller between the second teams. Lee Pidgeon made 15 not out at number 10 in Arnside’s 70 and then took 4/18 as with Chris Myers (4/37) he achieved a narrow win despite Ryan Heddle (21).

Morecambe 4ths won the Moon and Coxhill Trophy beating Sedgwick 3rds in the final with a man of the match performance from Dineshmanickam Annadurai who took 3/15 and then saw out the win with 15 from 4 balls after Tim Smith made 32 as they knocked off 101 to win by 6 wickets. Earlier Sedgwick had beaten Ingleton 2nds and Morecambe, inspired by 66 from Michael Fisher had beaten Burneside’s 130 fuelled by Jordan Wilkinson’s 43.

In the National t20 Plate Shireshead lost against Furness and Morpeth, but Robert Jacques impressed with 57 not out from 41 balls against Morpeth.