Essex 182/8
Edwards 41
Aust 39
J Dixon 4/17
Lancs 145/1
J Dixon 84*
M McDonald 39*
Lancashire won by 9 wickets (Revised Target due to Rain)
Having studied weather reports all night on Friday and throughout the Saturday, the question was were we right in asking Essex to travel with the chance of no play. A late switch of grounds meant it was down early to Swinton Moorside CC to assist getting the pitch fit to play.
On arrival the clouds parted and blue sky appeared, we have a chance – phew A 30min delay to the start of the game as the sides of the wicket were treated meant the game was reduced to 36 overs per side.
Lancashire won the toss and put the visitors in knowing if they could bowl them out we would be in with a chance of completing the game should the forecast remain correct, Essex made a positive start punishing the bad ball taking 15 runs from the first 3 overs with Jackson and Edwards at the crease and reaching their 50 run partnership at the end of the 11th over.
The pair continued to dominate the attack until Aaron O’Niell kept his nerve and held the catch at Long Off of the bowling of Waqass to remove Edwards for 41 off 49 balls.
The side remained low on positivity up to drinks as Essex put another 20 runs on. Stern words and Positive input the topic as the squad looked to bounce back and that they did in the 19th Over when Thomas Wilson entered the attack. Moss went on the attack first ball and Aaron was on hand again to produce a Catch that would match Eccleston and Stokes, racing in and diving forward to hold on and boost team spirit.
This was 98/3 in the following over as Tony Foster gathered one off the edge of the dangerous Jackson (32 from 53 balls) off O’Neill’s bowling. The improvement in the team saw the runs dry up a little when Mark McDonald picked up the wicket of Doe, the visitors were 128/4 off 27 overs.
Jimmy Dixon re-entered the attack from the top end and wasn’t long before he picked up his first wicket of the day, bowling Ellis for 6, followed up in the next over removing Aust for 39 and next ball bowling Mowatt. Could we see another Hattrick from Dixon.
Unfortunately not today, however Jimmy picked up his 4th victim in a similar fashion in the last over as the visitors closed their inning on 182/8
The covers were placed on at tea as the heavens opened up and the rain arrived Would that be it for the day? A 40 minute delay meant a reduction in overs and a revised target of 145 from 26 over was the challenge Lancashire faced.
Knowing the task Jimmy Dixon and skipper Adam Finneran opened the batting, the pair set out well, struggling to deal with some early swing, knowing time was on their side, they remained just behind the required run rate.
Lancashire lost their 1st wicket in the 8th over as Finneran went on the attack being caught at deep square for 13 off the bowling off Eliis, bringing Mark McDonald to the crease. Dixon now settled launched one into the factory as Lancashire slowly caught up with the scoring rate, 39/1 off 8 overs, still requiring a further 106 runs from 18 over.
The pair continued to pick up singles and punish the bad ball reaching 73/1 at the drinks interval, just 3 runs behind the required rate. Jimmy brought up his 50 and also the 50 partnership in the 16th Over as they continued to re-establish their domination of the Essex Bowling attack.
7 overs to go 53 runs needed to win, could they do it. The next over proved important as 2 Wides were followed by a smashing 6 over long on (literally) from Dixon, 2 more wides a 2 and a further boundary from McDonald, turned the game, 37 off 6 overs.
Starting to open up, McDonald also took control of the bowlers as the next 2 overs saw a further 19 runs added as the pair were starting to find the gaps and pile pressure on the fielding side. The pair put on 100 for the 2nd Wicket in the 23rd Over.
Dixon completed the game in style in the 24th Over with boundaries through point and cover meaning Lancashire won by 9 wickets. Dixon finished 84 not out and McDonald 39 not out. Having heard the game at Yorkshire between Yorkshire and Middlesex was rained off the night before means that as we head into the last weekend of fixtures Lancashire sit in 2nd Place 10 points behind Middlesex with a game in hand.
League Table
Pld pts
- Middlesex 6 116
- Lancashire 5 106
- Yorkshire 5 106
“A pleasing victory given the late set back we had, lots to improve in the field and bowling as we move forward into the next game”
A huge thankyou to Swinton Moorside for stepping in late in the day to host our fixture and also getting the game on, given the overnight weather
Our next fixture this Sunday again at Swinton Moorside as we look to hold a friendly fixture allowing our players the opportunity to develop whilst bringing in new faces who want to get involved with Disability Cricket.
Our final league fixture is Sunday 30th July at Ribblesdale Wanderers against Sussex