1st XI Match Report
September 12, 2009
1st XI Defeated By Bollington
Tattenhall 144 all out
Bollington 146-7
A dead-rubber between promoted champions Bollington and a Tattenhall side that had confirmed their league status the previous weekend was played in resplendent sunshine with the Flacca looking better than ever.
Bollington won the toss and the hosts were surprised to find themselves batting on a hot day and a flat pitch. Bollington however possess the most potent opening attack in the league. Gibbon and Jethlia repelled their probing bowling though, making slow but safe progress. Opening bowlers seen off... job half done. Then Gibbon and Jethlia both succumbed to loose strokes as they perceived the pressure had been relieved. Ian Richards came and went, trapped in front when getting forward late. Hope (34) and Martin Roberts (26) set about repairing the damage putting on a stand of 64 that looked like it would provide a platform to post a good total. A double strike from Bollington's spinners saw both compact lefties back to the pavilion within the space of a few moments. Then collapse... Mike Roberts, Mulvihill, Sandford and Mitchell all clean bowled, the former pair attempting expansive strokes, the latter beaten by wrist spin on the back foot. Forster and Dobson attempted to usher the score on to some sort of respectability, but 144 was perhaps 40 to 60 runs below par in the conditions.
Bollington's reply began in gung-ho fashion, much to the benefit of Gary Forster, both openers chipping to Mulvihill at mid-on, the first a dolly, the second a good reach and pluck travelling backwards. Then came the defining innings of the day, the visitors number four crashing a strong and clean-hitting 64, his runs came mostly straight and were almost exclusively driven. Mike Roberts picked him up with a good-one though, taking the top of the off-stump. It would have been easy for the hosts to crumble in the heat and in the face of what seemed to be an inevitable defeat, but Gibbon's run out and Dobson's toil represented a sense of fight and spirit. The off-spinner stuck at his task admirably, but the below-par total never really created the pressure needed to sneak a victory, Bollington finishing the season in winning ways, Tattenhall's performance indicative of what was a frustrating campaign.