The camping chairs and cool boxes were brought back down out of the loft on Saturday morning - the flasks were left for another day - as the travelling support made their preparations for a trip up to Horwich under clear blue skies, in the hope of seeing Maca’s men make it 2 from 2 to start the season.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, the Horwich openers survived a testing opening spell from Tom and Oscar who both managed to get the ball to move around but without reward.The introduction of Dan Jones from the Rivington Pike End (well that’s what you can see over that side anyway) came with a hat-trick opportunity, having taken 2 wickets with his last 2 balls to clean up the tail last Sunday. Maybe if Jordy knew it was hat-trick ball he wouldn’t have put down a regulation chance at second slip.
A few overs later the breakthrough was made, when Dan drew an edge and Owen took a one handed screamer high to his right at slip. That was a rare moment of brilliance in the field in a day of too many dropped catches and below par ground fielding. Something this side really needs to improve onto put together back to back promotions.
New signing Sas joined the attack from the “Ice Cream Van End” and impressed from ball one with his pace and control. He removed the opener just short of his 50 then the number 3 to leave Horwich 115/3. Dan picked up another with a catch at point from Tom, before a sharp piece of fielding out on the boundary from Owen to run out his college mate, Jack Murray. Jordy returned from Australia as a newly formed off spinner, bowling nicely to finish with 1-48 from his 12 over spell, leaving Clifton a target of 197 to take the points back to Manchester Road.
To say the Horwich opening bowlers were a little loose would be a tad polite. Three head height no balls bowled from the Rivington Pike End mixed in with a flurry of wides, helped the chase get off to a helpful start.
Steve and Sam both helped themselves to 12 runs apiece before falling, then a 62 run partnership from Dan and Jordy put Clifton in control of the chase. When Dan (38) departed, Owen came to the crease to hold up an end while Jordy pushed on and played with a little more freedom before falling for a well made 68. With 20 left to win the match, Oscar (4) Lewis (10) and Sas (7) got it over the line with 8 balls to spare.
Horwich looked like a strong side, especially with the bat, but they were let down by their opening bowlers which cost them the game. 12 wides and 3 no balls from the opener's 4 overs (which was 3 overs too many if I was captain) followed by 9 wides and 4 no balls from the first change bowler gave the Clifton target a very helpful boost.
Compare that to just 6 wides and zero no balls from Clifton’s bowling attack and there is the difference. The leg side wides rule for this season will have a pivotal role to play in who is promoted from this league come September.