JS Sports T/20 Plate Round 2-Group 3.
Blythe 1st XI, Moddershall 2nd XI and Silverdale 1st XI.
The group stages continue today in the plate competition, with the winner booking their place at finals day.
Blythe will be hoping to turn their poor league form around as they host the fixtures today; they currently sit at the bottom of Division 2. They received a bye in the first round, so today is their first outing in the competition. Moddershall sit 3rd in the same division. They came through a tough group in the last round with a narrow victory over Leycett before they thrashed Hanford to progress. Silverdale are 6th in Division 1 and secured comfortable victories over Cheadle 2’s and Porthill 2’s in the last round, and probably come into the day as favourites to advance to finals day.
Game 1 – Moddershall vs Silverdale.
Moddershall won by 12 runs.
Silverdale won the toss and elected to bowl.
Oliver Holdcroft cut the first ball of the match away to the point fence before a flick over mid-wicket brought him another boundary later in the over. He pulled Will Shenton for another boundary in the 2nd over as he was quickly into his work. Shenton got him later in the over, though, when he once again went for the pull, but he could only sky it to cover, where Matt Smith took a comfortable catch to leave Moddershall 16/1.
Callum Harrison trapped Rory Housley LBW in the 3rd over when he played across the line to a delivery. He then beat Mitch Kelsall’s outside edge twice as the over was a wicket maiden. Cameron Heard pulled Shenton through mid-wicket when he dropped short in the 4th over. Silverdale had already accrued 11 extras by the 5th over as they struggled with their discipline. Another boundary for Heard followed in the next over when he drove nicely through the covers. Moddershall finished the powerplay on 45/2.
Heard flicked Toby Degg behind square for his 3rd boundary to begin the 7th over. Kelsall then hit back-to-back boundaries through point as 14 runs came from the over. Heard then smacked a full toss from Matt Smith straight to Ryan Hall on the mid-wicket boundary as Moddershall fell to 59/3. An inside edge from Charlie Price then went to the boundary in the 9th over. Smith then got his 2nd wicket when Price nicked through to keeper Josh Rhodes to leave Moddershall 69/4. Smith was bowling well and had collected 2/13 from 3 overs.
Kelsall found the boundary again in the 11th over when he drove powerfully past mid-on to move to 25*. Alfie Womble was the beneficiary of overthrows in the next over when he pushed to covers and ran a quick single. The throw came in, beat the keeper and ran away to the boundary. Kelsall drove George Hickman to the extra cover boundary in the 14th over as they moved to 94/4. He struck Hickman for a maximum over long on in the 16th before he drove him through extra cover again. Kelsall reached a well-made 50 with a two into the leg side in the next over; it had taken him 43 balls and contained five 4s and one six.
Degg bowled Womble for 20 when he walked across his stumps in the 18th over to leave Moddershall 129/5. He had added 60 with Kelsall for the 6th wicket. The pair had run excellently between the wickets throughout the partnership. Dave Housley was LBW to the next ball as Silverdale began to wrestle back some momentum. Cameron Coughlan was caught by Smith when he attempted a reverse sweep of Niall Redman in the penultimate over, before Raghav Matsa rounded out the over by striking Redman over extra cover for a boundary. Kelsall carved Harrison over point to begin the final over with a boundary. Harrison bowled Matsa with the 4th ball to pick up his second wicket before two singles rounded out the over.
Moddershall closed on 146/8 from their 20 overs with Kelsall unbeaten on 64*. It had been an excellent knock, and he’d put his side in a good position. Smith finished with 2/18, Degg with 2/31 and Harrison with 2/20 as Silverdale bowled well throughout.
Josh Cartledge struck Womble for a huge maximum over mid-wicket as 9 runs came from the opening over. Ben Housley bowled Matt Myatt with a ball that nipped back in the 2nd over to leave Silverdale 13/1. Rhodes cut his 2nd ball past point to open his account with a boundary before he drove sweetly through the covers on the next ball for another boundary. He pulled the final ball of the 3rd over through square leg for his 3rd boundary as Silverdale moved to 27/1. Cartledge cut Sam Wright over point for a one-bounce four before the seamer beat his defences as Silverdale lost their 2nd wicket.
Wright picked up two wickets in two balls in the 6th over when he bowled Hall and then trapped Redman LBW as Silverdale fell to 38/4. Rhodes pulled Holdcroft to the mid-wicket fence for his 4th boundary in the 7th over before he cut through point for his second boundary of the over. A sixth boundary came when he pulled Holdcroft again through mid-wicket in the 9th over. He then smashed Wright through the covers for another boundary as he moved to 36*. Another boundary followed later in the over when he guided down to third man as Silverdale moved to 74/4 after 10 overs.
Kelsall was struck down the ground for a maximum before a single into the off side brought up an excellent 50 that had included eight boundaries and one six. Dave Housley made the critical breakthrough when he bowled Rhodes for 51 in the 12th over to leave Silverdale 88/5. Baker got back-to-back boundaries in the 14th over when he cut behind point and then an edge beat keeper Price and ran away to the boundary. Womble bowled Harrison before trapping Shenton LBW as he took two wickets in two balls. Baker hit him for a huge six in the 17th over before he had Smith stumped by Price when he ran past one for his 3rd wicket.
Baker clipped Ben Housley behind square for a boundary before he caught at cover as Silverdale fell to 118/9. Two singles rounded out the over to leave them needing 27 from 12 balls. Degg slog-swept Kelsall through mid-wicket to begin the 19th over with a boundary, and another one followed from the 4th ball in the same direction as 11 came from the over. Degg was run out in the final over when attempting to come back for a second run to give Moddershall victory by 12 runs. Womble finished with 3/32 and Wright 3/28 to give their side victory in a tight game.
Game 2 – Blythe vs Silverdale.
Silverdale won by 20 runs.
Blythe won the toss and elected to bowl.
Umair Mushtaq bowled Matt Baker for 1 in the opening over to leave Silverdale 3/1. Toby Degg was dropped at mid-wicket in the 3rd over when the fielder misjudged a high catch. Scott Degg won the battle of the Degg’s when he had his son stumped by Issac Gregory in the 4th over as Silverdale fell to 13/2. Ryan Hall rounded out the powerplay with back-to-back boundaries off Degg through the legside. He struck Degg for an enormous six to begin the 8th over as he moved to 20*. Josh Rhodes cut behind point for his first boundary to round out the over.
Rhodes scored three more boundaries in the next over. He drove through point before lifting a massive six onto the garage roof, before a beautiful square drive past point as he looked in very good touch. A flick over mid-wicket off Pete Finch followed in the next over before he was put down at mid-wicket as he tried to work to leg. He clipped Craig Grimley behind square for his 5th boundary to begin the 13th over. Hall smashed Finch straight down the ground for a boundary as he moved to 31* before Rhodes reached his 50 when he drove Finch through the covers for his 6th boundary as Silverdale moved to 106/2 after 14 overs.
Hall flicked Grimley behind square for his 4th boundary in the 15th over as the partnership for the 3rd wicket went past 100. He was then well caught on the mid-wicket boundary for 41 by Josh Jackson off Oliver Edwards to leave Silverdale 117/3 in the 16th over. His 41 came from only 32 balls and included four 4s and a six. Rhodes drove the final ball of the over to the point boundary as he moved to 60*.
Matt Myatt pulled Grimley high over square leg for a maximum to begin the 17th over. A boundary to round out the 18th came when he clipped Edwards behind square as the score moved to 141/3. Rhodes crashed Grimley through mid-wicket to move to 69*from the final ball of the 19th over. Myatt deposited Edwards over cow corner for a huge maximum in the final over before Rhodes was caught at cover by Finch for 72. Josh Cartledge was bowled by the last ball of the innings as Silverdale closed on 160/5.
Edwards finished with 3/25 and was excellent at the death. Rhodes’ 72 came from 59 balls and included eight 4s and a six. It was a pleasure to watch, and he had put his side in a strong position.
Jackson crashed his first ball to the mid-wicket boundary as he opened his account with a boundary, and a second boundary followed in the over when he drove a full toss through mid-on. Edwards drove Harrison through the covers in the next over to get off the mark in style before he was well caught at mid-off by Baker to leave Blythe 16/1.
Jackson lifted Will Shenton over mid-on for his 3rd boundary before advancing down the pitch and lifting him over the off side. The over was then rounded out with an enormous six over mid-off as he raced to 22*. Grimley smashed a Matt Smith full toss through the leg side for his first boundary in the 6th over before Jackson pulled a short ball to the mid-wicket fence as he continued to be positive. Blythe ended the powerplay on 50/1 and were in a strong position to chase the target down.
Grimley drove Toby Degg through the covers before cutting him through point as he notched back-to-back boundaries in the 7th over. Jackson was caught at short third man by Myatt for a breezy 32 off the bowling of Smith to leave Blythe 60/2 in the 8th over. Mushtaq finished the over with a clip through the leg side for a boundary. Grimley struck Degg for two boundaries through the leg side before Degg bowled him for 25 to leave Blythe 74/3.
Mushtaq drove Smith down the ground powerfully for two boundaries in the 10th over as the score moved to 84/3. Another dismissive boundary through the leg side followed in the 11th over off Redman as he quickly moved to 19*. Almas Shirzad was well caught by Shenton in the covers off George Hickman’s first ball when he attempted a big hit down the ground to leave Blythe 93/4. James Degg then drove the final ball through the covers for a boundary. He lifted Hickman over mid-wicket for his second boundary in the 14th over as the score moved to 105/4.
Mushtaq struck a massive blow in the 15th over when he smashed a Redman full toss straight over the side screen and into the trees as he moved to 31*. Blythe required 46 from the final 30 balls for victory with 6 wickets in hand. Hickman bowled Degg with the first ball of the over before he bowled 5 dots to Qmer Ikram as the run rate began to rise. Mushtaq was then stumped by Rhodes off Redman for 32 as Blythe fell to 115/6 with 23 balls remaining. Ikram smashed Redman for a huge six over the leg side to round out the over as Blythe moved to 124/6 with 3 overs to go.
Hickman bowled a fine 18th over that only went for 3 singles as Blythe now needed 34 off the final two overs. Finch was then bowled neck and crop by Harrison as Blythe lost their 7 wicket in the 19th over. Ikram slashed a boundary down the third man as the score moved to 134/7 at the end of the over. Toby Degg conceded 6 runs from the final over as Silverdale ran out comfortable winners by 20 runs. Harrison (2/18) and Hickman (2/13) were very impressive with the ball for the visitors.
Game 3 Blythe vs Moddershall.
Blythe won by 7 wickets.
Blythe won the toss and elected to bowl.
Holdcroft flicked the final ball of the first over for a boundary over the leg side, as 10 runs came from the over. Rory Housley drove Finch’s first ball over mid-off for his first boundary. Holdcroft rounded out the over with a fine shot over mid-wicket to move the score to 21/0 after 2 overs. He advanced down the pitch and drove Mushtaq over the covers for another boundary in the 3rd over. Holdcroft was bowled when he attempted a pull off Mushtaq to leave Moddershall 26/1. Dave Housley was dropped by keeper Gregory from the final ball of an eventful over.
Dave Housley slog swept Finch to the mid-wicket fence to get off the mark in the 4th over. Rory Housley struck a mighty blow that sailed over the scorebox in the 5th over as the score moved to 41/1. Finch was unlucky not to bowl Rory Housley with a big inswinger in the 6th over, but the ball beat everything and ran away for 4 byes. Moddershall finished the powerplay on 52/1. Rory Housley was then bowled by Jackson with the first ball of the 7th over for 25.
Gregory dropped Dave Housley off Scott Degg before he stumped him next ball when he advanced down the wicket to leave Moddershall 58/3 after 8 overs. Kelsall drove Degg through extra cover for his boundary in the 10th over as Moddershall made their way to 69/3 at the halfway stage of their innings. Jackson picked up his 2nd wicket when he bowled Kelsall with a quicker ball to leave Moddershall 72/4 after 11 overs. Degg then spun one past Price’s outside edge when he skipped down the pitch, and Gregory did the rest in the next over as Moddershall lost their 5th wicket with only 74 on the board.
Jackson bowled Coughlan with a dart to begin the 13th over as the off-spinner picked up his 3rd wicket, as the Blythe spinners began to take control of the game. Boundaries were becoming harder and harder to find as the pitch had definitely slowed down in the 3rd match of the day. 4 leg byes were welcome runs for Moddershall before Matsa swept James Degg to the square leg fence as the score crept towards 100. He then upper cut Grimley to the third man fence for his 2nd boundary to the 17th over with the score on 103/6.
Womble found the boundary with the final ball of the 18th over to move the score to 110/6 before Matsa was well caught by Jackson on the long on boundary from the first ball of the 19th over. Womble drove powerfully down the ground for a boundary before he scampered a single into the legside as the score moved to 118/7 at the end of the over. James Baxter was caught at point from the second ball of the final over as Moddershall lost their 8th wicket. Ben Housley ran two into the leg side from the next ball before smashing a boundary down the ground. Three runs came from the next ball before Womble smashed a massive 6 over mid-wicket as 16 priceless runs came from the over. Womble ended unbeaten on 27 from 27 balls with two 4s and a six. Jackson finished with 3/12, and Scott Degg 2/18 as they bowled impressively in the middle overs.
Mushtaq cut Ben Housley through point in the 2nd over for the first boundary of the innings. Womble bowled Jackson in the 3rd over when he had an ugly slog at a delivery to leave Blythe 11/1. Grimley cut Ben Housley for consecutive boundaries behind point in the 4th over before Mushtaq rounded out the over by smashing him over mid-on as they moved to 25/1. Kelsall was then cut through point as they ended the powerplay in a good position on 40/1.
Grimley drove Dave Housley behind point in the next over before he drove over extra cover in the next as the score moved to 53/1. Grimley pulled Dave Housley over square leg before he repeated the shot in the next over as he moved to 28*. Mushtaq smashed Dave Housley through mid-on before a nick ran away to the third man boundary as he scored back-to-back boundaries in the 11th over. He was lucky to survive a catch on the long-off boundary when he was on 43; Wright completed the catch, but stepped on the boundary line right in front of where I was sitting. A single into the legside took him to 50 later in the over as the score moved to 99/1.
Grimley was caught in the covers by Rory Housley for 36 off Kelsall as Blythe lost their second wicket with 101 on the board. A huge six off Womble over long on followed as Mushtaq continued to attack and Blythe moved closer to victory. Another powerfully struck four down the ground followed, before a towering blow over long rounded out a 16-run over for the home side. Shirzad was then run out by Dave Housley after a mix-up with Mushtaq to leave Blythe 3 down for 119.
A towering maximum straight down the ground off Kelsall followed before he smashed a full toss over extra cover for a one-bounce four, moving Blythe to within 4 of victory. A huge blow over the clubhouse won the game with five overs to spare as Mushtaq finished unbeaten on 86 from just 53 balls with six 4s and seven 6s. It was a breathtaking innings, and his power was phenomenal. With this big victory, Blythe advanced as the group winners on net run rate. They will join Newcastle & Hartshill 2nd XI, Stafford 1st XI and Crewe 1st XI at finals day later in the season.
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