3rd XI Reports
Chorley 3rd XI vs. Wrea Green
Chorley 3rd XI were back at their home ground in Withnell on Saturday to take on Wrea Green. Demming won the toss and elected to field sensing that strength in his bowling attack and the way in which pitch had played over previous weeks may allow for quick wickets and a shorter chase on the day that forecasters predicted would be the hottest of the year so far.
Opening with himself and Paul Whittaker it wasn't long until the decision to field paid dividends as Whittaker removed James Tidmarsh for 7 when he fed a comfortable catch to Daniel Lamb at square leg. Demming picked up wicket number two when Matt Roberts was sharply caught by Michael Mead at silly midwicket leaving the Wrea Green team at 8 for 2 with 4 overs played and Chorley looking dominant. The only hint of resistance came from a brief partnership between number 3 Chris Jones, the anchor of the Wrea Green innings with 56, and Jack Ward, a character known to veteran 3rd team players as a player who often used his mouth before his brain! True to his character he was soon back in the pavilion when Ed Melling took a solid one handed catch behind the stumps to leave Ward walking back with 19 to his name. Chorley took drinks at 49 for 3 with the feeling that they were very much in charge.
As play resumed Chorley continued to pick up wickets with Lamb and Whittaker both bowling batsman for 0 and Michael Mead contributing with a double wicket maiden; a team effort that reduced the Wrea Green middle order to tatters with 4 batsman making zero and Gregor Davis only adding 1 to the total. Whittaker picked up his fourth wicket with help from Michael Mead at short leg as Andy Harty brought the innings to a close removing Chris Jones with an inswinging delivery before bowling Sean Whiteside through the gate. This left Chorley chasing 103 to win.
Last weeks centurion Daniel Lamb and in form James Daniels opened the Chorley innings but to neither found themselves in the middle for very long. Undone by the swinging ball - both players were caught behind for 10 and 8 respectively. Leaving Rowan Mitcham and the ever fortuitous Edward Melling to put runs on the board.
A serious of destructive pull shots from Melling and well timed drives from Mitcham kept the score ticking along towards target, the only blip towards the close was the wicket of Melling as he was caught by Dave Noble for 38 leaving Mitcham and Howarth to creep towards the final runs with Mitcham finishing the game in style with an elegant six back over the sight screen. Chorley took a 12 point victory and take momentum with them for next weeks game at Fulwood and Broughton.
For last weeks report see the Archive
