High hopes begin to fade

10:24am Thursday 19th June 2008

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CREWE’S promotion push took another dent at lowly Rode Park A stubborn defensive display prevented Mike Holt’s men from getting back on track last Saturday.

The NSSC Division One strugglers looked set to collapse when they slipped to 61-5 in reply to Crewe’s 230-9.

However Rob Wild and Paul Chadwick dug in to help their side edge to safety on 101-5.

Opening the batting for Crewe, Martin Dawson and Riz Arshad provided another great start with a fine partnership of 80.

Although Arshad was unluckily run out for 21, Dawson went on to complete a fine half century.

His third of the season was ended when he left lbw for 54.

Sub pro Mohammed Aslam Quereshi followed quickly but Tom Gower took the attack back to the bowlers as he raced to his 50.

Now down to fifth, Crewe need to beat Sandyford at home; start 1.30pm.

Skipper Murray Ranger rescued Elworth once again.

Together with Ross Kesteven and Chris Regan, the trio dug them out of a deep hole to salvage a draw from their clash at Sandyford.

The hosts will have been gutted not to force home a win after reducing Elworth to 13-4 in chase of an unlikely 243.

Elworth got off to a disastrous start to their reply as both Phil Cross and Pete Davies went for ducks in the first over.

Lee Morris (4) followed and Pete Barnett was another quack merchant.

However solid work from Ranger (59), Kesteven (42) and Regan (49) saved the day and a dogged fight saw Elworth close on 174-7.

Sandyford recovered from a shaky start themselves with both Matt Buckley and Paul Crompton bagging an opener each.

Mark Leese and pro Harsha Corray started to push the game in Sandyford’s favour and Elworth were reeling when the hosts upped the scoring rate to around six an over.

A total of 62 was blasted from the last 10 to leave Elworth up against it.

Buckley worked hard for his 4-30 from 14.4 overs while the veteran Jim Higgins claimed 2-76 as Sandyford rattled up 243-9.

It was a better Sunday for Elworth as they dumped Macclesfield out of the Cheshire Cup.

Their Cheshire neighbours batted first and made 217-5 but Elworth rallied to muster 221-6.

Dave Palin was star man with a super 62 on his return to the side.

Kesteven (32) and Davies (39) helped take the score on and with two overs left Elworth required just five.

Buckley hit two fours to secure victory.

Elworth go to Hem Heath on Saturday.

WESTON remain clear in Division Two despite a draw with Newcastle & Hartshill.

The Main Road outfit are 20 points clear at the top and came close to making it more last Saturday.

Weston batted first and posted 204-8dec with Andy Young (67) and Joe Gates (46) the top batters.

Newcastle denied them the win, closing on 179-9 as Phil Stockton claimed 4-75.

Weston hope to get back to winning ways at Bignall End on Saturday.

NANTWICH went so close to their fourth win of the season.

The Dabbers fell just short in their chase at home to Urmston.

The visitors won the toss and batted first to make good progress at Whitehouse Lane.

Nigel Davies finally broke a century opening partnership but runs continued.

Urmston built up a big total of 253-7 by the end of their allocated 55 overs.

Davies battled for his 3-73 with Andy Newton (2-31) and Glen Batticciotto (2-87) also chipping in Nantwich made a fine effort to force an unlikely win.

Chris Simpson (53), Ray Doyle (45) and Mark Debrabender (49) all tried to keep up with the required rate.

But the Dabbers had to settle for a draw when they ran out of overs at 225-9.

Nantwich remain on course for the best season in ECB Premier for sometime.

They are fourth in the table and travel to Hyde on Satuday.