Scholefield bowls Milnrow to Wood Cup success

Milnrow v Unsworth
Wood Cup Final

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Milnrow won the John Willie Lees Wood Cup Final beating Unsworth courtesy of a superb bowling performance by man-of-the-series Alex Scholefield, who took 5 for 17, and a mature, patient batting performance by man-of-the-match Max Power, who was 48 not out.

Milnrow won the toss and put Unsworth in to bat on an excellent wicket at Walsden Cricket Club and took their first wicket the 8th over with Unsworth on just 24, Long caught behind by Milnrow wicket keeper Denny Hulme from Scholefield’s bowling.

Black clouds gathered and rain stopped play for 15 minutes, but it was to be the only rain interruption of the day.

The covers off again it wasn’t long before Milnrow struck a major blow as Milnrow professional Kuldeep Diwan deceived Unsworth professional Calvin Flowers with his spin and had him caught behind by Denny Hulme with Flowers on a mere 4 runs and Unsworth 40.

The third wicket fell soon after when Unsworth captain John Wiggans was bowled by Diwan.

In deep trouble at 38 for 3, Unsworth needed someone to stay at the crease and in their moment of need, Gregoriou and Entwistle answered with a superb stand of 90 before Entwistle was caught right on the mid-wicket boundary by Dean Lord with a more respectable 128 on the scoreboard.

Gregoriou lasted the innings, clocking up his half century on the way, however, his team mates collapsed around him with the next six wickets falling for just 34 runs as Schoefield mopped up wicket after wicket – Unsworth all out for 162 after 45 of their allotted 50 overs.

On what is a very small pitch, with short boundaries, at Walsden, 162 looked an easy target for a Milnrow batting line up considered one of the best in the Central Lancashire League.

However, Unsworth got the early breakthrough they needed when Milnrow captain Paul Winrow was caught by Calvin Flowers off Mo Munowar’s bowling in only the fifth over with just 27 runs on the score board.

Scholefield’s wicket fell on 40 runs, caught by Jack O’Brien off Flowers bowling.

Unsworth then notched a notable scalp as they took the wicket of Milnrow professional Kuldeep Diwan for a duck.

With half of their allotted 25 overs played, Milnrow were 93 for 3, in comparison to Unsworth's 92 for 3 at the same stage.

The closeness of the score at the half way stage was, however, deceptive because in truth Milnrow looked comfortable with Max Power occupying the crease and even at this stage there seemed little doubt it would only be a matter of time before they would reach the target.

Unsworth could find no way past a resolute Power, though he was frustrating the crowd who resorted to chanting “can you get it out of the square”, due to his habitual front foot forward block. He paid no heed to the chants and stayed patient and carefully picked his shots.

Perhaps the only surprise thereafter was the length of time it took Milnrow to notch up the required runs, but after 46 overs, and with five wickets to spare, a boundary took Milnrow to 165 to win the game.