Middleton Cricket Club - Werneth Destroy Middleton

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On an overcast day at Towncroft, Ste Davey, won the toss and once again decided to bat. A decision that was to backfire big time as Middleton collapsed to their lowest score of the season, a total of 116.

The first wicket to fall was that on Davey, caught by Werneth's captain, Andy Walker off the bowling of Joe Taylor for 2, with the score on 10.

Without addition to the score, Scott Stanworth was on his was back, caught behind by overseas amateur, Chris Erasmus, off Matthew Taylor for 3.

10 for 2 soon became 13 for 3 when Martin Roberts again fell to the Erasmus/Matthew Taylor combination.

If Middleton thought it could not get any worse, they were wrong as they slumped to 29 for 5 with George Walker being caught by his namesake, Andy Walker off Matthew Taylor for 9 and Reece Jones was well caught by Joe Taylor for 0 to give Matthew Taylor his fourth wicket.

A stand of 20 was then put together by Deputy professional, Dinuka Hettiarachchi, and Danny Core. Which was ended when Core was caught beginf off Werneth professional Darren Shadford for 17.

Hettiarachchi was the next to go, again caught by Erasmus again off Shadford to give the keeper his fourth victim for 16.

Dale Highton was caught by Lenhardt off Mark Dronsfield for 3. Danny Royle became the ninth man to go for a well played 25 and Mark Buckley finished the innings with a quick fire 19 not out off 20 balls as John McMahon became Matthew Taylor's sixth victim as the bowler finished with splendid figures of 9.4 overs, 6 wickets for 41 runs.

Middleton needed to get off to a good start with early wickets and that's just what they did when Mark Buckley had Franco Lenhardt caught behind for 2, with the score on 2.

Alan Durose and Shadford put on a stand of 51 before Durose top edged George Walker to Martin Roberts at fine leg for 25.

Middleton's hopes were raised when Hettiarachchi had Matthew Taylor LBW for 9 with the score on 61. But that was the end of Middleton's hopes despite Hettiarachchi having Erasmus LBW for 8 with the score on 105. Shadford saw his team through with a battling 62 not out.

A disappointing day for Middleton.

Rod Highton

- Next weekend sees a single weekend with the 2nd team at home to Crompton and the first team at home in the away fixture. On Sunday there is a Roydes Trophy group stage match against Walsden at Towncroft