Match Report
ST ANNES TITLE CHALLENGE CONTINUES
Netherfield 182
St Annes 183-3
Gerry Wolstenholme
St Annes Northern Premier League title aspirations continued in the blazing sunshine at Vernon Road on Saturday as they ruthlessly accounted for Netherfield whose own title hopes probably vanished with the defeat. St Annes won the toss, put Netherfield in to bat and then restricted them to 182 on a track that perhaps should have realised more like 230. And the Netherfield total was never going to be enough for victory as St Annes cantered home by seven wickets as they reached 184-3 with five overs and one ball remaining of the final 20 overs.
There was no danger early on and there 26 on the board before St Annes struck. Steve Twist then induced an edge from Craig Walmsley, 12, and Duncan Whalley caught him behind at 26-1. Pieter Strydom joined Gareth White and Geoff Love revealed his knowledge of his former Border captain when he stationed himself at short mid wicket. Strydom, having hit a four straight down the ground, drove a slightly more flighted ball from Michael Baer loosely to Love who gleefully took the catch and the potentially dangerous Netherfield professional was gone for 12 with the total on 60.
Meanwhile White was batting beautifully and had made 65 from 76 balls with one six and seven fours when he leg before wicket to Love at 100-3. St Annes, in the form of Love, then turned the screw and Netherfield slumped to 117-7 as the off spinner removed the rest of the middle order. Parry, nine, was stumped by Whalley at 103, Ben Haddrick went the same way for nought at 107, Rishi Girdhari, eight, drove a return catch at 108 and then Tommy Prime, five, was caught at forward short leg by Adrian Darlington at 117.
Graham Dodds and Scott Clement did their best to restore some pride in the Netherfield performance and they put on 38 runs for the eighth wicket before Dodds was caught behind off Twist for a fighting 22 and that was 155-8. It was quickly 155-9 as Twist had Phil Hartley was caught behind without scoring.
A spirited last wicket stand then added a further 27 runs before Marc Hadwin was run out from the final ball for 14. That left Clement a useful 24 not out and Netherfield all for 182 with Love taking the bowling honours with 5-56 and Twist had 3-45 while Baer chipped in with 1-51.
St Annes then lost their seemingly customary early wicket as Darlington, seven, fell to a return catch to Clement at 15. But the score had advanced to 54 before another wicket fell and by then Twist was in his majestic stride with Evans playing a supporting role. It was Evans who was dismissed when he was caught as slip by Clement off Strydom for 17 and Twist followed him to the pavilion after making a fine 42 from only 47 balls with four fours when he edged Clement to White behind the stumps at 90-3.
Thereafter the game belonged to Love, 40 not out from 114 balls with two fours, and the very much in-form Whalley, 60 not out from 64 balls with three sixes and eight fours. Neither batsman was in any trouble and they timed their effort to perfection and saw St Annes home by seven wickets at 184-3 with 31 balls of the last 20 overs remaining. Geoff Love said after the game, "I am proud of the boys, they have performed well and the recent run of results has done wonders for the confidence." Let us hope that the success continues and the penultimate game of the season against League leaders Darwen looks a very appetising fixture at the moment!
