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49 from 4 needed
Henrik Holm17 Aug - 18:55
1s leave it late in tight chase
Chester have been one of the surprise underachievers this season, with plenty of batting talent, but not really putting together many complete performances. However, they would still prove a stern test for the 1s, who knew a win would be required to keep up their momentum, and to keep the pressure on the chasing pack. With a good pitch for batting, and a short boundary towards Wilmslow Road, it was no surprise that Chester skipper Jack Williams elected to bat first when he won the toss.
With 17,292 Premier League runs between them, it would be difficult to find a more experienced opening pair than Al Money and Warren Goodwin, and they showed their class right from the off. Money started off more quietly, while Goodwin made full use of the pace on offer from the Horse and Youngy, crashing away 6 boundaries to take Chester to 40 off 7.3. However, Youngy then produced an absolute jaffa to bowl Goodwin for 29 off 22, beating the outside edge and knocking back off stump. In came Ireland U19 Freddie Ogilby, and Dids began to turn the screw, only 15 coming off the next five overs. Steve settled into his spell, picking up Ogilby, before Nick came on and bounced out the dangerous Noah Vickery, caught well by James in the deep.
This brought Andy Metcalf in, and together with Money, he started to stabilise for Chester. They rotated the strike sensibly and kept the scoreboard ticking over with regular enough boundaries; 75-3 after 16 became 131-3 eleven overs later, and Dids were searching for a breakthrough. Will drew a fine nick from Money which went down, but two balls later he had his man for a well-made 74, via a diving juggle from Leechy. It looked like Dids were going to roll through Chester, as another two wickets fell in quick succession leaving the score at 142-6. However, the skipper came in and provided some resistance with Metcalf. They stayed together for 11 overs, adding 55 runs in the process until Williams was nicked off by Youngy. However, 197-7 now gave Chester a platform to accelerate in the last 7 overs. And accelerate they did, Metcalf reaching 78 before he was really well run out by Rob in the last over. However, his partnerships with Josh Leach and Ash Davis had added 58 runs, and Chester had powered themselves up to 259-9.
It may not be the highest total amassed at Wilmslow Road this season, but it would still take plenty of chasing. In fact, the 1s haven’t chased a target that high since our famous win over Widnes in 2022. They would need a similar performance, in such a crucial match.
The Dids openers followed a different strategy to the Chester openers, occupying the crease and minimising any early damage. It may have been slow going at first, but Dids never fell too far behind the DLS par score (always a good measure of how to pace a long chase) and saw off the new pink ball. The score was 41 off 13 when Tim was adjudged LBW, which brought Chris in. He settled in straight away, crunching a drive for 4 second ball, and helped to keep the scoreboard ticking along. He was fortunate to be dropped on 8, but hit some lovely boundaries, including a big six over deep midwicket off Williams. He wasn’t quite so lucky second time round, as he was caught for 32 off the last ball before drinks, but 95-2 was a solid platform that would allow our powerful middle order to play at their best. When he came in, Rob used his feet straight away against Money, clipping him for a lovely boundary, but in the next over he was dragged out of his crease by Williams and Ogilby completed the stumping. In came the skipper, with the score 104-3, 156 still required, and some impetus needed to be put back into the innings. Despite knowing Nick’s propensity to slog sweep him, Williams decided to keep himself on at the end with the short boundary, which seemed strange. Nick obliged by planting him onto Wilmslow Road, followed by two more boundaries, and Dids were motoring again. Four more boundaries soon followed, as the momentum of the chase completely flipped in Didsbury’s favour. Williams turned to his strike bowler Davis, and although the extra pace he provided made run scoring easier, he got through the skipper’s defences, and the game was wide open again. Through all of this Haf had been ticking along to reach 42, and playing the anchor role he was joined by Steve, 110 needed off 17.
Steve’s form with the bat this season has been exceptional, and he delivered yet again, just when the 1s needed it. He knocked it around for a few overs until he got himself in, and then started putting the gas pedal down, taking 14 runs off the 37th over. 73 more needed, and Dids in the slightly nervy driving seat. Haf reached another resolute 50, reverse sweeping Leach for two boundaries. Another reverse sweep brought up the 200, but he then fell, top edging another reverse sweep to short third man for a crucial 62. This brought the Green brothers together, and they proceeded to chip down the runs required. Consecutive boundaries from Steve took the required rate below 6 and Steve to a brilliant 50 off 44 balls; a crunching cut shot from James then left 26 needed off 31. But there was yet another twist. Three quick wickets saw 234-5 become 245-8 with 17 balls left. In came Will, bringing all the confidence of a top order batsman, and clipped George McCormick through midwicket for 4 to take the target down to 7 with two overs remaining. After a big LBW appeal first ball, Will and Steve rotated the strike, and with one ball left of the Davis over and two required, Will guided it down to third man for four to clinch a massive 20 points for the 1s.
As an extra added bonus after a brilliant win, Alderley ran out victors in their match at Hyde, meaning that our gap to Hyde has now opened up to 41 points. Our nearest competitors are now Nantwich, 32 points adrift, meaning 49 points in the next 4 matches wins the title, 3 wins will do handsomely.
With 17,292 Premier League runs between them, it would be difficult to find a more experienced opening pair than Al Money and Warren Goodwin, and they showed their class right from the off. Money started off more quietly, while Goodwin made full use of the pace on offer from the Horse and Youngy, crashing away 6 boundaries to take Chester to 40 off 7.3. However, Youngy then produced an absolute jaffa to bowl Goodwin for 29 off 22, beating the outside edge and knocking back off stump. In came Ireland U19 Freddie Ogilby, and Dids began to turn the screw, only 15 coming off the next five overs. Steve settled into his spell, picking up Ogilby, before Nick came on and bounced out the dangerous Noah Vickery, caught well by James in the deep.
This brought Andy Metcalf in, and together with Money, he started to stabilise for Chester. They rotated the strike sensibly and kept the scoreboard ticking over with regular enough boundaries; 75-3 after 16 became 131-3 eleven overs later, and Dids were searching for a breakthrough. Will drew a fine nick from Money which went down, but two balls later he had his man for a well-made 74, via a diving juggle from Leechy. It looked like Dids were going to roll through Chester, as another two wickets fell in quick succession leaving the score at 142-6. However, the skipper came in and provided some resistance with Metcalf. They stayed together for 11 overs, adding 55 runs in the process until Williams was nicked off by Youngy. However, 197-7 now gave Chester a platform to accelerate in the last 7 overs. And accelerate they did, Metcalf reaching 78 before he was really well run out by Rob in the last over. However, his partnerships with Josh Leach and Ash Davis had added 58 runs, and Chester had powered themselves up to 259-9.
It may not be the highest total amassed at Wilmslow Road this season, but it would still take plenty of chasing. In fact, the 1s haven’t chased a target that high since our famous win over Widnes in 2022. They would need a similar performance, in such a crucial match.
The Dids openers followed a different strategy to the Chester openers, occupying the crease and minimising any early damage. It may have been slow going at first, but Dids never fell too far behind the DLS par score (always a good measure of how to pace a long chase) and saw off the new pink ball. The score was 41 off 13 when Tim was adjudged LBW, which brought Chris in. He settled in straight away, crunching a drive for 4 second ball, and helped to keep the scoreboard ticking along. He was fortunate to be dropped on 8, but hit some lovely boundaries, including a big six over deep midwicket off Williams. He wasn’t quite so lucky second time round, as he was caught for 32 off the last ball before drinks, but 95-2 was a solid platform that would allow our powerful middle order to play at their best. When he came in, Rob used his feet straight away against Money, clipping him for a lovely boundary, but in the next over he was dragged out of his crease by Williams and Ogilby completed the stumping. In came the skipper, with the score 104-3, 156 still required, and some impetus needed to be put back into the innings. Despite knowing Nick’s propensity to slog sweep him, Williams decided to keep himself on at the end with the short boundary, which seemed strange. Nick obliged by planting him onto Wilmslow Road, followed by two more boundaries, and Dids were motoring again. Four more boundaries soon followed, as the momentum of the chase completely flipped in Didsbury’s favour. Williams turned to his strike bowler Davis, and although the extra pace he provided made run scoring easier, he got through the skipper’s defences, and the game was wide open again. Through all of this Haf had been ticking along to reach 42, and playing the anchor role he was joined by Steve, 110 needed off 17.
Steve’s form with the bat this season has been exceptional, and he delivered yet again, just when the 1s needed it. He knocked it around for a few overs until he got himself in, and then started putting the gas pedal down, taking 14 runs off the 37th over. 73 more needed, and Dids in the slightly nervy driving seat. Haf reached another resolute 50, reverse sweeping Leach for two boundaries. Another reverse sweep brought up the 200, but he then fell, top edging another reverse sweep to short third man for a crucial 62. This brought the Green brothers together, and they proceeded to chip down the runs required. Consecutive boundaries from Steve took the required rate below 6 and Steve to a brilliant 50 off 44 balls; a crunching cut shot from James then left 26 needed off 31. But there was yet another twist. Three quick wickets saw 234-5 become 245-8 with 17 balls left. In came Will, bringing all the confidence of a top order batsman, and clipped George McCormick through midwicket for 4 to take the target down to 7 with two overs remaining. After a big LBW appeal first ball, Will and Steve rotated the strike, and with one ball left of the Davis over and two required, Will guided it down to third man for four to clinch a massive 20 points for the 1s.
As an extra added bonus after a brilliant win, Alderley ran out victors in their match at Hyde, meaning that our gap to Hyde has now opened up to 41 points. Our nearest competitors are now Nantwich, 32 points adrift, meaning 49 points in the next 4 matches wins the title, 3 wins will do handsomely.
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