Hem Heath hold out to deny Foxes victory

NORTH STAFFS SOUTH CHESHIRE LEAGUE PREMIER B

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ON a day when the weather was predicted to have the upper hand, the cricketers, who had been gloomily anticipating another hokey cokey afternoon, actually had the last laugh.

Cricketers 1, Weather Forecasters 0.

Still, for the Foxes 1st XI away at Hem Heath II, a win proved elusive.

This despite posting a highly competitive total, largely thanks to Harry Newton's splendid 64 not out and a dashing unbroken eighth wicket partnership of 62 between Newton and Joe Stephenson (34*).

Elworth had looked in a spot of bother when Leo Chatzigeorgiou was caught at the wicket by Tom Myatt, off Shailesh Khune’s bowling, for three.

This left them on 93/5 after Chris Regan (12), Ash Rogers (8), Russ Ballard (5) and Alex Banks (21) had been dismissed. Khune had been introduced with Elworth 58/2, the Foxes were 73 and approaching their first batting point when he struck to remove Rogers.

This triggered a period which culminated in Ed Parrish being LBW to Nazakat Ali for a gritty 39, and had seen four wickets fall for the addition of 20 runs.

Elworth’s innings was turned around by, firstly, Jarrod McKay (23) and Newton, who added 66 for the seventh wicket, before Newton and Stephenson picked up the baton. Newton, who has looked increasingly useful over the last few weeks, collected boundaries off each of the home side's bowlers.

Yohan Liyanage was driven twice to the cover boundary in fine style as the Elworth man flexed his muscles. Ben Topley went for three boundaries, including a fine drive through the covers. McKay faced more of the bowling but Newton had the lion’s share of the scoring, it was an effective combination, plenty of singles being taken, and the scoreboard kept moving.