Thirds recover from wobble to stay top

THE Thirds entertained Barrow at Parkside and asked the visitors to bat first after skipper Chris Flint won the toss.

- JON CURWEN

Macc made the quickest breakthrough possible as Richard Flint caught Morrison off Chris Moores the first ball of the innings. Two more early wickets, another for Moores and one for Bruno Smith-Lomas saw Barrow struggling at 18-3.

A stand of 41 between Dwyer and Shaw looked to have the innings back on track before Dwyer fell to Tony Moores for 32. Following a run out by Chris Flint, Shaw looked to be holding the innings together until he was out for 26, bowled by Stephen Whittingham.

From a position of 82-5, the end came quickly with a clatter of wickets. Barrow were left 98 all out with near 10 overs of their innings unused.

The late-order damage was mainly done by Whittingham who finished with the fine figures of 9-4-9-4.

The returning Chris Moores also grabbed a late wicket to finish with 9.4-2-23-3.

In the pursuit of the modest total Macc looked comfortable as openers Chris Moores and Ian Kenny notched up 25 runs without loss. The game then took a twist as three quick wickets left Macc on 28-3. Rather than rebuild the collapse continued and at 37-5 it suddenly looked like Barrow were favourites in the game. A solid partnership of Alfie Hughes and Richard Flint rescued things for Macc as they added 47 for the sixth wicket. When Hughes was bowled by Vadella for an important 21, Macc were just 15 runs from victory.

Flint, who finished 20 not out, together with Luke Mottram ensured there was no more drama and Macc crossed the line for a four-wicket victory.

Division A of the Chesire League remains tight with Macc top over Runcorn by just two points. Next week Macc face an important game away at third-placed Trafford Metrovics.