Hollinwood v Droylsden Saturday 3rd May 2008
1st X1
Droyslden……..88ao
Hollinwood……89-5
Droylsden started their season a week late
after rain washed out the opening fixture of the season against Uppermill. They travelled to 2006 league champions Hollinwood
in confident mood, although handicapped by the late arrival of the new club professional.
Droylsden batted first and found the early
going difficult. Openers ‘Kibs’ Uppal and Mike Ratcliffe both departed early, both wickets taken by the dependable
Shahzad. The middle order of skipper Gareth Dent, Mike Schofield and Mike Tipping then set about stabilising the Droylsden
innings. Dent went for a gritty 22, and then Schofield and Tipping shared the highest partnership of the match (40), to lead
Droylsden to 85-4 before Schofield was out for 27. Tipping only added 2 more runs before he was out for 20 and then came the
collapse. Only 3 runs were added for the loss of 5 wickets and Droylsden innings closed with the score on 88.
Droylsden set about trying to defend the
low score with hope as the track was very poor and many balls misbehaved during the first innings. First team debutant Vickas
Alyas had Droylsden believing when he used the poor surface to his advantage and removed 3 of the Hollinwood top 4 with the
score on 6. Unfortunately early hope soon disappeared as Hollinwood put bat to ball and after the loss of another couple of
wickets, reached their target. Alyas finished with impressive figures of 10-0-34-4.
2nd X1
Droyslden……..128-9
Hollinwood……129-8
Droylsden will be disappointed that they
didn’t beat Hollinwood on Saturday. An excellent performance saw the 2nds come close, a performance much improved on
last season.
Andy Bennett and James Barnett made shared
a steady opening partnership, before the latter was run out. That brought to the crease the ever dependable Alex Ciccirillo
who didn’t disappoint. He scored 40 before being caught in the deep trying to push the run rate. Most batsmen got a
start but got themselves out trying to score quick runs, and the team finished on 128-9 after ever green Nev Mason smacked
a big 6 at the death.
Droylsden took wickets at good times throughout
the Hollinwood innings, Danny Taylor took 2-47, Rob Tipping 1-32, and Jamie Walker and James Barnett had Hollinwood in real
trouble when they returned figures of 2-19 and 2-16 respectively. Add to that a wicket with his 2nd ball by Jordan
Newton, and Hollinwood were staring at defeat. They desperately needed a partnership and they found one at the right time.
A 9th wicket stand of 35 saw Hollinwood home, but not without a few scares along the way.
Droylsden v Austerlands Sunday 4th May 2008
1st X1
Droyslden
Austerlands
No Play –
Rain
2nd X1
Austerlands…..30-2
Droylsden
Cricket turned
into a farce at Austerlands on Sunday. Despite rain and a wet wicket and outfield, the match started at 4:30pm. Droylsden
made an encouraging start, Rob Tipping taking a wicket in his second over and then Jamie Walker did the same in the next over. In the 6th over of the game, Rob Tipping slipped in his follow through
for the second time, leaving the league umpire to deem the surface too wet and unfit. Austerlands reluctantly left the field
and had some cross words with the Droylsden men, however, their claims were immature and misplaced as contrary to popular
belief, it was a league official who abandoned the match. The 2 wickets taken by Droylsden secured an important bonus point
(the only one in the league all day) and again highlighted that the 2nds are improving. 
