The Clifton 2s backed up last week’s comfortable win against Stand with a victory at Worsley CC that was anything but comfortable, taking them into 2nd place in the table and one point behind leaders, Horwich.
The reason for the lack of comfort in this victory was that Dan Jones with 16 was the highest score anyone could muster with the bat, and it’s never going to be a great day when “extras” wins the top bat prize with 21.
Clifton managed to scramble 109 together to at least give them something to bowl at, and a couple of early wickets was essential to make this game competitive. Two boundaries in the first over then another in the next over to get the hosts off to a flyer wasn’t in the script, and at 48/1 it was looking like one of those days.
It was the introduction of the returning Liam Dorsey and Sas Pushparajah as first change bowlers that turned this game around, as 48/1 became 64/6 in the blink of an eye. A masterclass in hitting the spot from both ends suffocated the Worsley batsmen, with no “4 balls” to feast on to relieve any pressure. They were supported well with a strong performance from Chris Thorpe with the gloves, coming in to replace McManus following his call up to the 1s.
Liam Dorsey’s return as captain saw him pick up a fantastic 5-fer from his spell, ending with superb figures of 11-5-18-5. At the other end, Sas finished with 3-20 off his 12.5 overs to bowl the home side out for 87; an outcome that looked almost impossible when they were almost halfway to the total required with 9 wickets still in the shed.
I don’t think you’ll find a pair of first change bowlers that good until you look a fair few divisions higher.