Cricket: Clifton clout Middleton

Middleton Cricket Club

The lack of runs, once again, proved to be the downfall of Middleton's first eleven as they were defeated away to Clifton on Saturday 15 June.

Batting first, Middleton scored 161 all out, with Ashar Zaidi top scoring with 41. Wickets fell all too regularly and partnerships were not allowed to develop with Matt Wright taking 4 for 12.

With such a low total to defend, the visitors knew that they needed early wickets, and Paul Bennett duly delivered, claiming the wickets of Lachlan Mason and Adam Holt, to leave Clifton 13 for 2.

But Tom Derbyshire and Ochult Erasmus steadied the ship, and Clifton only lost one more wicket in knocking off the runs. Erasmus finishing 79 not out.

On Saturday 22 June, Middleton first eleven are playing in the Twenty20 Cup Quarter Final against Unsworth at Towncroft with a 3pm start.

On Sunday 23 June the first team welcome Walsden and the second team are playing in the reverse fixture.

Middleton
S Stanworth b Cheetham 6
G Walker c Derbyshire b Borritt 6
A Zaidi LBW b Erasmus 41
G Jones b Jennings 24
R Jones c & b Wright 11
S Davey c Erasmus b Wright 39
P Bennett LBW b Wright 0
M Buckley run out 1
S Holmes b Erasmus 13

B Lee not out 0
Extras: (10w, 1nb, 4b, 2lb) 17
Total: (all out) 161

S Cheetham 10-3-37-1
R Borritt 8-1-25-1
G Jennings 7-1-33-1
O Erasmus 11.4-1-48-2
M Wright 6-2-12-4

Clifton
L Mason c Davey b Bennett 9
A Holt c Holmes b Bennett 1
T Derbyshire LBW b Zaidi 30
O Erasmus not out 79
D Morris not out 38

Extras: (3w, 2lb) 5
Total: (for 3 wickets) 162

S Holmes 12-3-43-0
P Bennett 16-4-49-2
A Zaidi 9-0-29-1
G Walker 4-0-32-0
R Jones 1-0-7-0