COMP WIN FINAL TO BECOME LEAGUE CHAMPIONS OF LANCASHIRE

Date: 29th August 2017

3 wicket Win over GMCL in Inter-League Final

On Sunday 27 August the Liverpool & District Cricket Competition travelled to Prestwich CC and overcame their counterparts from the Greater Manchester Cricket League in the final of the Lancashire Inter-League competition for 2017.

Choosing to bat, the hosts made a steady start reaching 55 for 2 from their opening 20 overs, Dan Houghton being particularly miserly conceding just 2 runs from his first four overs. The first two GMCL players were dismissed as skipper Tom Foster used his five main bowlers to good effect.

Some safe catching in the deep then limited the home side to a score of 199 for 8 off their allotted 45 overs with all the bowlers claiming victims, Houghton taking 2 for 30, John Dotters 2 for 39 and Liam Grey 2 for 49.

In reply, Ross Zelem and Sam Kershaw fell early to some excellent bowling but an 88 run partnership for the third wicket between Tyler McGladdery and Chris Laker took the score to 123 for 3. This brought in Matty McKiernan apparently in a hurry to win the game. Taking a liking to the slow bowling on offer he hit 32 (including 5 sixes) off one over from the unfortunate Bradley as he raced to a 21 ball fifty before falling in the next over. McGladdery fell after making an excellent 73.

The game took another turn however when the Comp lost three wickets for just nine runs leaving them on 193 for 7 but Liam Grey and James Seward saw them safely home by 3 wickets with 15 balls to spare. Tom Foster received the shield from Brian Woodhead, Chairman of the Inter-League Committee.

Team

Tom Foster, John Dotters, Liam Grey, Dan Houghton, Khurram Hussein, Sam Kershaw, Chris Laker, Tyler McGladdery, Matt McKiernan, James Seward, Ross Zelem.

Thanks to Andy Grice for his efforts in coaching and organising the successful side, to GMCL and Prestwich CC for their hospitality in hosting the game, and to Brian Woodhead and Bob Hinchliffe for continuing to organise and manage the Inter-League Competition.

Rob Durand