lworth 170/8 (40 overs) beat Alsager 100 all out (32.3)

By now we know the signs that summer is on its way. The smack of leather on flesh, the

sight of Elworth groundsman Noel Webb tearing onto the field aboard the Titfield

Thunderbolt to make sure all is ready and, most obviously, Russ Ballard has lost the toss.

That Alsager chose to field may have given onlookers pause for thought, although when Alex

Banks (30) and Ballard put on 42 for the first wicket calmness reigned. It had taken the pair a

while to get to grips with the new season and the Alsager opening pair of Sabah Ghaus and

Toby Farrington but they looked secure.

Once Ghaus removed Ballard, for 13, things looked a little dicey as Ryan Sloan was bowled

by Lewis Pickford for one, leaving the score 46/2. Pickford then trapped Banks LBW with 65

on the board. Chris Regan and Ed Parrish had seen the score to 88 when Parrish became

Pickford's third victim. Regan, looking promising on 21, was bowled by Farrington at 105 and

the Foxes prospects took another hit when another young and promising Pickford, Pierce

this time, who had Joe Stephenson caught by veteran wicket-keeper Paul Pickford for six.

111/6 was decidedly not what the doctor ordered with just nine and a half overs remaining.

However, a combination of gritty, exhilarating and occasionally unconventional play, saw 59

runs added. That Elworth reached 170 was, in some measure, aided by the 43 extras Alsager

conceded, which included 32 wides. 25 not out from Ben Holt also helped set a challenging

target.

Alsager's reply was derailed almost immediately. They scored five from the first ball Holt

sent down, a wide which went straight to the boundary for four more. But the second ball

was a humdinger which bowled Sean Price "all ends up" as the saying goes. Pierce Pickford

came in at number three and the first ball he received from Holt replicated the first one

Price received, and wide which went for four. So we had a remarkable situation; the score

after three balls was 10/3 with no bat having touched ball. Nor did the fourth ball touch the

bat, it did touch the pads of Pickford though and Holt's appeal was upheld.

By the time the over concluded, after 10 balls as there were two more wides, the score was

17, captain James Bloor having hit a boundary. Off-spinner Chris Winter had opened the

bowling with Holt, and he made an early impact bowling Aqeel Ahmed for two and then

picking up the wicket of Kev Leigh (11), stumped smartly by Sloan.

Steve Morgan's introduction hastened the Alsager decline, the left armer soon in business

picking up the wickets of Paul Pickford (9) and Sam Goodwin (0) to peg the visitors back at

85/6. Bloor and Ghaus added 15 in five overs but once Winter bowled the former for an

excellent 41 it seemed like Alsager's remaining chance had gone. All the more so when two

balls later Winter bowled Waqas Ahmed for nought. When Morgan removed Ghaus and

then Farrington in the next over it meant the last four Alsager wickets had all fallen with the

score on 100. Morgan finished with 4/12 and Winter 4/10 as Elworth advanced to the

second round.

This Saturday the Foxes travel to the Staffordshire Moorlands to resume Premier Division

hostilities with old rivals Leek. The 2nd XI begin life in Division Three at home to Newcastle

& Hartshill (12:30). Meanwhile, this Sunday, the 3rd XI are at home to Macclesfield in a

Cheshire County League 3rd XI T20 match which starts at 3pm.