Cricket: Eaves leads the way for Middleton Thirds

Middleton Cricket Club

A stellar performance from Aaron Eaves led Middleton Third XI to victory.

For the fourth game running, and much to their frustration, Middleton found themselves batting second on what looked like a decent wicket.

The Heyside team that arrived at Towncroft was a mixture of youth and experience to which they all played their part, none more so than the experienced Mark Ingham who finished on 75 not out from a total of 137-10. He punished anything loose whilst at the same time guiding his young teammates to occupy the crease and frustrate the home team bowlers as best they could.

Middleton used six bowlers, all bowling a consistent line and length, and all reaping the rewards of at least one wicket, Aaron Eaves being the pick of the bowlers finishing with the excellent figures of 3 for 20 from his eight overs.

Middleton's innings got underway with the tried and tested opening pair of Darren Brown and James Tierney. Tierney soon got the scoreboard ticking over, but with the score on 16 the first Middleton wicket fell when Brown, on six, was excellently caught by Ingham albeit at the second attempt.

Tierney was joined at the crease by Matt Collins, making his first appearance for the thirds this season, however with the score on 23 he was adjudged LBW for two.

Next to make the journey to the middle was Ben Lee and together with Tierney they put on a quickfire 20 before Tierney was bowled by Bradley Flint for 22.

Another player making his first start for the thirds this season was Connor Callahan, but he was soon back in the dressing room another victim of Bradley Flint’s bowling without scoring, leaving Middleton 54-4.

Next to the middle was Addison Holland and together with Lee they took the score on to 75 before Holland was caught behind by Leo Matthews again off the bowling of Flint for his fourth wicket of the day, leaving him with figures of 4 for 27 from his 7 overs.

One run later Lee’s innings was over, caught by Daniel Robertson off the bowling of young lady bowler Zara Matthews for 24.

With the score now 76-6 and Middleton needing a further 62 runs a shock was looking on the cards.

With two new batters at the crease, Aaron Eaves and Stefan Holmes, captain Mark Tierney was hoping for a partnership to steady the ship and push for the win and he got just that with the pair remaining unbeaten on 36 and 12 respectively with Eaves playing the more attacking role and looking like he could have batted all day.

Middleton took the win with by four wickets with almost 14 overs to spare despite the best efforts of Heyside's young team.