Didsbury 5s win by 63 runs

On a glorious afternoon with JP as captain for the day, Timperley surprisingly invited us to bat first on what looked like an excellent pitch. Then Timperley realised they only had 10 men and it was going to be along afternoon in the hot sun. Our innings started watchfully, unfortunately Adnan was trapped lbw in front. Stu Green survived a very tight run-out but from then on played wonderfully straight, with his wagon wheel looking more like a slice of quiche from straight to extra cover. James Prices was also watchful at the other end before the runs started to flow and before long Stu had passed 50 and a hundred partnership was completed. Two quick wickets of Pricey and Sunil which were almost a carbon-copy of each other briefly brought Timperley back into the game. However, JP raced to 30, before Andy Jones let loose and took us to our second hundred partnership of the game off the last ball of our innings as we could declare after 43 overs.

Alex Bennett and Andy Jones opened the bowling for us and our first wicket as a remarkable catch from Mohsin, which looked like evading him at square leg, before be snaffled it with an inspector gadget-esque reach. This wicket brought their captain, Jason Coad, to the crease, who had scored a hundred against us last year. Jason dispatched anything full and Timperley reached 50 in 6 overs. However, Andy Jones had other ideas and induced 2 edges which were grabbed by JP. Haris replaced Alex and found dramatic turn and bounce. Edges flew and one was taken by Pricey in the gully. Jason was still there accumulating rapidly although seemed to be running out of partners, especially with only 9 wickets to take.

Andy found another edge and Pricey took a very good low catch at 2nd slip. Then Haris’s turn helped him bowl two victims including their captain, effectively ending the possibility of a chase. Jonesy bowled a peach of a delivery to take the 8th and his 5th and then Timperley dropped anchor to try and save the game. Bowling was changed with Hannah and Mohsin seeing if they could make the breakthrough, before pace was re-introduced with Alex and Stu Green trying to find the final wicket. The last pair put on 51, before a top edge was grasped by JP to end their innings.

Overall a satisfying win, with big plaudits to Andy Jones for his 68* and 5-fer (bowling 14 overs unchanged). Excellent knock from Stu Green and a collective team effort in the field. Next week we “host” league leaders Ashley 2nds at High Lane CC.