Middleton snatch defeat from the jaws of victory

Skipper, Steve Davey won the toss and elected to bat on a glorious day at Clifton.

Scott Stanworth and Neil Edwards put together a superb stand of 128 in 28 overs before Edwards was caught by Adam Rodzoch off the bowling of Mo Akhtar for a superb 75 off 87 balls with 11 fours and 3 sixes.

Without another run being score, Middleton lost another 2 wickets when Stanworth was caught by Clifton captain, Glenn Bullock for 41 and Davey, stumped by Dorsey off Andy Hough for 0.

Martin Roberts and Danny Core took the score to 157 before Roberts was bowled by Hough for 19. Core was the next to go with the score on 176, again bowled by Hough for 20.

Four runs later Danny Royle was sold short and run out for 0 and Middleton were 180 for 6.

Dale Highton became Akhtar's third wicket when he was caught by Jennings for 4. Hough picked up his fourth and fifth wicket, bowling Reece Jones and Mark Buckley for 24 and 4 respectively.

Andrew Deakin and Josh Fallows took the score to 216 at the end of the innings, probably around 30 runs short of what they would have hoped for after the good start

Chris Lord and Andy Griffiths opened for Clifton and with the score on 20, Griffiths was superbly caught by Reece Jones for 8 off Mark Buckley.

Lord and, Clifton professional, Hendro Puchert put on a stand of 58 before Buckley bowled Lord for 38. Alex Rodzoch helped Puchert to take the score to 113 before being bowled by Edwards for 10, the first of his five wickets as Clifton went to 148 for 8, with Morris being run out for 3, Puchert being well caught by Deakin for 61 off Edwards, Akhtar was bowled by Edwards, Bullock was caught by Davey off Edwards and Dorsey was caught behind by Stanworth for 0.

The game seemed to be Middleton's with Clifton needing 69 off 8 overs with 2 wickets left.

Adam Rodzoch and Greg Jennings took the score to 173 before Jennings was bowled by Highton for 12 and Clifton still needed 44 off 5 overs.

Rodzoch and Andy Hough saw Clifton through with 4 balls to spare as Middleton lost another close finish and their poor form continues.