Last pair survive seven overs as Ashcombe hang on for a draw

WHITMORE took advantage of Wood Lane's loss to close the gap to the summit to five points with a tense home success against Eccleshall.

- By Chris Travers

Half-centuries from Saad Qureshi and Caleb Mierkalns had helped Whitmore to amass 190-8 declared from 50 overs early in the piece.

Mierkalns had been quick out of the blocks with a 27-ball 50, hitting nine fours and one six, up front for Whitmore.

Qureshi then took over, striking eight boundaries and three sixes in his 75 not out.

Andrew Calvert picked up 4-21 for Eccleshall and Matthew Wright finished with figures of 3-37.

Eccleshall were left with 27 overs to either knock off the runs or bat out for a draw.

They managed neither as, with four balls of the match left, they were dismissed for 94.

Greg Clark (22), Connor Beasley (20) and Calvert (15) made the most progress with the bat.

But it was Whitmore who were left celebrating as Oliver Johnson scooped 4-19 and there were two wickets each for Muhammad Imran and Bilal Hussain. Knypersley brought an end to Wood Lane's unblemished start to the NSSCL Premier B campaign.

Danny Brierley’s side had won all six of their pink-ball encounters before the sides switched to red ball matters.

And the change in format also saw Wood Lane suffer defeat for the first time this summer as they lost by seven wickets in a rain-affected game on their trip to Tunstall Road.

Wood Lane took first use and managed to reach 125-6 from their 25 overs, fronted by Martin Dawson's unbeaten 32 and 30 from Knype old boy Jake Thompson.

Steven Brierley, Danny Brierley and Liam Kelter all contributed 16 apiece for the table-toppers.