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Falling short

10/ 7/2008

WYTHENSHAWE’S run of batting failures continued as the defending Manchester Association Premier Division champions lost by three wickets against Swinton Moorside.

Batting first, Wythenshawe were soon in trouble as they were reduced to 5-3 and then 17-4.

Colin Crowther used his experience to great effect, hitting the top score of 30 to spark a recovery of sorts as Richard Robinson (29), Robin Chaudhry (14) and Leigh Sproston (13) took them to 101-5. However, the tail disappeared without a trace as Wythenshawe were all out for 109.

To their credit, the club’s bowlers battled hard to keep Swinton’s reply in check as Crowther took 4-39 and Chris Bradley 2-31. Their efforts proved in vain though as Swinton crept over the finishing line on 110-7.

The reverse fixture was washed out, as were the games involving Whalley Range’s second team at Bolton and South West Manchester’s firsts at Worsley.

Range’s first team were victorious, recording a four-wicket defeat of title hopefuls Hindley St Peters. A rain-reduced game saw Range reduce their opponents to 13-2 and then 58-4 before Hindley recovered to 131 all out, Waqas Malik with 6-65 and Vilas Kutty 4-33.

Caution was the watchword as Range needed to keep their reply ticking along without losing wickets. Neil Cusick (32) and Mike Sutherland (15) put on 50 for the first wicket before three wickets fell quickly.

Despite losing another three batsmen, Range eased home in the 39th over on 135-6 with Kutty undefeated on 52.

A lack of batting depth cost South West Manchester’s seconds dearly as they lost against Worsley. Having dismissed Worsley for 171, South West were all out for 142 with six overs left.